Omnia Chambers aims to break the mould in the highly traditional world of barrister’s chambers.
Omnia (the Latin word for ‘all’) was established by a group of highly regarded barristers from Sydney’s leading chambers in a move to shake up the legal industry and encourage more women and diverse candidates to join the white male-dominated bar. Siren’s brief was to help create change at the bar. To design a modern chambers reflecting Omnia’s contemporary values, helping to attract new talent and help future-proof the profession.
‘The bar has to choose to change to attract new and diverse talent.’
Kate Morgan, Senior Counsel.
Significant financial barriers to entry have entrenched the bar as a place of privilege. The traditional ‘key money’ model (requiring barristers to pay more than $500 000 to simply secure a room at chambers) is a key reason diversity is so lacking at the bar. Omnia breaks this model, dispensing with the upfront payment, instead recouping costs through higher monthly fees.
As a result, the design of Omnia Chambers is essential to the success of the concept. Breaking the mould, encouraging diversity and accessibility, whilst having great standards of design and a sense of quality is central to every element.
The design breaks from the stuffy and darkened halls of tradition in a non-hierarchical way, creating a new form of chambers that promotes collaboration and engenders a sense of belonging. Inclusivity is central to the design, which focuses on creating a welcoming and inviting fit-out and a sense of familiarity for both clients and the members of chambers.
