Barrister mistaken for defendant three times in a day calls for anti-racism training

A 25-year-old barrister in the United Kingdom has called for anti-racism training to be introduced in the legal profession, after she was mistaken for a defendant three times in just one day.

Alexandra Wilson, who also wrote In Black and White: A Young Barrister's Story of Race and Class in a Broken Justice System, a book that examines racism in the UK court system, tweeted Wednesday about her "exhausting" experience of discrimination as a black barrister in the country.

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/CFfoFt0JGBL/]]

"I thought I’d explain what happened today because I’m absolutely exhausted and tbh I think a light needs to be shone on this. Especially given so many people like me seem to experience the same thing." She began.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/EssexBarrister/status/1308854340258598913]]

"First, the security officer asked me what my name was so he could ‘find [my] name on the list’ (the list of defendants). I explained I was a barrister. He apologised and guided me through security. At this point I tried to shrug it off as an innocent mistake." Ms Wilson continued.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/EssexBarrister/status/1308854341953032193]]

"Second, after speaking to my client I opened the door to the courtroom to discuss the case with the prosecutor who was sitting inside. The bench weren’t in the room so it was the perfect time. (Continued...)" the thread goes on.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/EssexBarrister/status/1308854343412649984]]

"At the door a member of the public told me not to go into the courtroom. I asked why and she said because it’s a court, only lawyers can go in. She said I was a journalist. The usher (the one person who recognised I was a barrister today) said to ignore her and to head on in."

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/EssexBarrister/status/1308854344570335235]]

Ms Wilson wrote:

"As I opened the door, a solicitor/ barrister said I needed to wait outside court and said the usher (who, btw, was next to me) would come outside and sign me in & the court would call me in for my case. I explained I’m a barrister. She looked embarrassed and said “oh. I see.”"

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/EssexBarrister/status/1308854345723768837]]

"She turned back around and I walked towards the prosecutor, ready to have our conversation. Before I got there the clerk, VERY loudly, told me to leave the courtroom and said the usher would be out shortly. Before I could respond she then asked if I was represented."

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/EssexBarrister/status/1308854347476930563]]

"I, AGAIN, explained that I am a defence barrister trying to speak to the prosecutor. She looked at me, said “oh right, ok” and continued with what she was doing."

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/EssexBarrister/status/1308854348823310343]]

Ms Wilson concluded:

"Thankfully, the prosecutor and I were eventually able to have our conversation and the case proceeded smoothly. This really isn’t ok though. I don’t expect to have to constantly justify my existence at work."

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/EssexBarrister/status/1308854349964152840]]

Ms Wilson told Metro, "It’s easy to think, “I’m not racist because I don’t use racial slurs” or “I would never intentionally say anything hateful to someone about their race”.

But racism doesn’t stop there. Racism is making assumptions about people because of the way they look."

She contends that the current racial bias training represents the "bare minimum" of what should be in place. "The training that does take place needs to be actively anti-racist, as opposed to promoting equality and diversity which should be a bare minimum." She said.

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/CEj_e1oJ_83/]]

"It’s not just about me, about this particular incidence in the court-room," she added. "It’s about the wider impact this might have on people. It’s things like this that might indicate why people are not staying in the profession."