International Roma Day: calling the legal profession to action

As the bridge to diversity is being built, I fear the GRT community is falling through the cracks. This has to be a call to action for the legal profession to fully realise its promise of a truly open profession.

Happy International Roma Day. As a proud Romani legal professional, International Roma Day (8 April) is a chance for me and other GRT people to celebrate their identities, dispel stereotypes and educate others about past and present day discrimination faced by GRT peoples. Although every International Roma Day brings about positive conversations and interactions, the legal profession in general has much work to do.

Navigating the legal profession as a GRT person is a unique experience. With regards to the profession in general, I can confidently say that GRT voices are not included in the great diversity discussion. Absent from data monitoring about the makeup of our profession. Absent from panel discussions. Absent from firms’ numerous pledges and initiatives. Further, it was only until I founded the GRT Lawyers Association that there was any sort of organisation striving to give a voice to GRT legal professionals.

In a society which still misuses the term ‘gypsy’, stereotypes the GRT community as work-shy and whose politicians criminalise a centuries-old nomadic lifestyle, it can be daunting to be open about your GRT identity. From both a professional and personal perspective, it is sometimes easier for GRT legal professionals to hide rather than self-identify for fear of discrimination. The silent treatment the legal profession gives the GRT community also, in my opinion, contributes to hidden GRT professionals staying hidden.

The first step is that the legal profession acknowledges it has a problem. A problem with including the GRT community in diversity commitments and discussions. There are a handful of GRT legal professionals with whom I am in contact, however, I am sure that there are many others hiding due to the lack of confidence that the legal sphere is open enough to include their voices. To date, I do not see any evidence which may refute these fears.

A strong GRT voice in the legal professional has the potential to help further the rights of the wider community. Using the example of the Society of Black Lawyers, their successful lobbying has culminated in, for example, pushing the government to publish statistics on race within the criminal justice system. Alongside allies, we as GRT legal professionals can take on similar projects and create a culture of GRT self-representation, as well as collaboration with other bodies in the profession.

Importantly, having a visible group of GRT-identifying legal professionals can inspire and mentor future generations. Not only can it provide inspiration for young people in our communities to reach for a legal career, but it will hopefully empower GRT youth to see the law as a tool for genuine change. This is where firms’ and profession-wide social mobility initiatives can help, assisting GRT people to get into the profession and also contribute to breaking the cycle of unequal opportunity.

Without words of diversity being actioned, promises will appear and remain empty to those still underrepresented.

This International Roma Day, I am calling on the legal profession to acknowledge it has a problem with GRT representation when it talks about creating a diverse profession. I would like to see this lack of representation taken seriously and measures implemented to remedy the status quo. It is an ultimate goal that a strong GRT voice is created within the legal profession, not only benefiting the legal profession itself but also the wider GRT community. Without words of diversity being actioned, promises will appear and remain empty to those still underrepresented.

Opre Roma!