‘We felt we didn’t belong’: Barristers accuse legal tailor of elitist and discriminatory treatment

‘We felt we didn’t belong’: Barristers accuse legal tailor of elitist and discriminatory treatment Dozens of barristers have claimed they have experienced poor treatment at the centuries-old business - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Several barristers have accused a prestigious legal tailor of treating them with “disdain” after they entered the shop to buy clothing for court. Ede and Ravenscroft, which has been outfitting lawyers with wigs and robes since the 17th century, has come under fire after complaints about its customer service circulated on social media. Black barristers and others from under-represented routes into the profession shared their experiences and said they were made to feel as if they didn’t “belong”. Shelly Glaister-Young, a family law specialist at 42 Bedford Row chambers in London, who spearheaded the online conversation about the store, told The Independent that she had been contacted by people from all levels of the profession from students to the highest and most privileged KCs (King’s Counsel). In a post on LinkedIn, she shared her own experience in purchasing court attire from the store over two decades ago and recalled how she had been reduced to tears back then and had “no proud family entourage to back me up”. Upon revisiting the shop earlier this month, she said the experience had not improved despite having worked in the industry for 20 years. She says she was faced with a “haughty assistant” who “sternly demanded” that she get away from where they were standing as she attended to a student. Her post immediately drew in dozens of comments from barristers sharing her sentiments. “I can’t say whether I was treated the way I was because of any particular characteristic. I wasn’t visibly pierced and tattooed when I tried to buy my wig and gown in Ede and Ravenscroft over two decades ago,” she told The Independent. “I’m a woman with mixed white, Chinese and Jamaican heritage. I’m also now a barrister of 20 years and a Bencher of the Inner Temple. Absolutely none of these factors should be in play when shopping in the store because no assumptions should be made about what a barrister looks or sounds like.” Jason Hadden MBE, who is described as an award-winning family barrister specialising in family law, said that he “always felt poorly treated in E&R. Complete disdain. As if I'm troubling them by seeking to buy something. Never understood it.” Ayanna Nelson, a barrister at 7BR, told The Independent that she had been told she would be better of “relaxing your hair” or “straightening it” in order to “fit in”. At the time, nearly 17 years ago, she said she had sported very short locks when she entered the store. “I think he thought he was being helpful,” she said. “I imagine he was acting on the assumption that as a Black woman, I would have a harder time at the bar, which is true. I don't think it was set out of malice, but he was effectively suggesting that this is how to make life easier for myself. “I didn't take kindly to what he said and I effectively said to him at that point, well, that's what I came here for and effectively the consultation ended there.” Ede & Ravenscroft told The Independent that all its customers were treated with “courtesy and care” and it would never ask customers to alter a hairstyle to wear one of its wigs. She said: “I've never forgotten the experience, and never been back to E&R”. Before the online discussion, she thought she had been the only one to have had a poor experience. She has since been contacted by the company to discuss her concerns. Other issues relate to women being treated differently to men. Glaister-Young says that a female KC when buying her silk’s garb asked about colarettes, at which point the sales assistant “turned their gaze and entire response to the KC’s husband”. She added that she has since been told that male and female barristers must sign a different book when they purchase their wigs. “Such attitudes are perhaps not surprising for a shop where the only access to the legal attire is through the entirely separate male section of the shop, although men have shared their difficult experiences too,” she said. In one complaint to the company that Glaister-Young was cc’d into, a barrister wrote: “Buying my wig and gown and signing the book should have been a memorable and special experience, and instead all I remember is how your staff made me feel - which was that I did not belong.” Glaister-Young says that the comment “epitomises the strength of feeling about and the impact of the snooty, elitist, chauvinist and/or racist treatment others have experienced”. She has been contacted both publicly and privately about the topic and added: “Accents and socio-economic background have featured in public and private accounts.” Alice Nash, a barrister specialising in professional liability, insurance and costs, wrote that she had been “so intimidated by the shop that I never bought myself a wig and gown”. “I got mine second-hand from a friend who left the Bar quite early on,” she wrote. She added that the store “frequently displays its male window dummies in court dress, whilst the female ones appear to be attired for accompanying their husbands to judicial investiture.” Dozens of others also commented, remarking that they had been treated like something “the cat had dragged in” or like an “intruder”. However, some were surprised by the stories, with one barrister recalling that she had a “very positive experience”. Another added: “I’ve always found them an absolute delight to deal with, including with female friends. I wonder what’s going on there for them to provide such mixed service without any rhyme or reason.” A spokesperson for the Bar Council told The Independent that “barristers should not be having these experiences, least of all at such a celebratory and exciting time”. “The Bar wants to attract and retain the best talent and to do so we must all strive to break down barriers and stamp out the behaviours that can leave barristers feeling alienated and ultimately drive them away from the profession,” said Sam Mercer, the Bar Council’s equality, diversity, and inclusion lead. Glaister-Young has been in discussions with the team at Ede and Ravenscroft and says that she asked them to consider issuing a public apology, which they declined, and said they preferred to speak people individually about their experiences. Ede & Ravenscroft told The Independent: “We want all our customers to feel they have been welcomed, respected and treated with courtesy and care. While our fitters may ask how a barrister will wear their hair in court so that the wig sits comfortably, we would never expect anyone to change their hairstyle to wear one of our wigs. In 1922 Rosa Ede, who then ran the business, introduced a separate women’s autograph book to celebrate Ivy Williams and Helena Normanton becoming the first women called to the Bar, a tradition that continues to this day.” But Glaister-Young says that the response is not good enough: “I sincerely hope E&R will reflect on what people are saying about their experiences. Some have told me they haven’t even set foot inside the shop because of its reputation. However, at the end of the day, E&R holds all the cards. “We have few alternative options, and none for university gowns or judicial robes. E&R will only change approach if it wants to. I hope the comment in today’s Times article is not an indication it has no intention of doing so.” The Independent has approached Ede & Ravenscroft for additional comment. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments