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There is an ‘urgent need’ for positive action to increase the number of women and ethnic minority lawyers on the bench, the Bar Council said after statistics revealed a ‘serious problem’ with appointments.
The latest figures released by the Judicial Appointments Commission revealed that ethnic minority candidates made up 20% of applicants, but only 6% of appointments, they were disproportionately less likely to succeed in applying to be High Court and Circuit Judges, and none had applied for senior judicial roles.
Women made up 42% of applicants, but accounted for only 35% of appointments. While their success rate in applying to be High Court judges was proportionate to those who applied, women made up only 35% of the pool of applicants.
The Bar Council said the figures showed a ‘serious problem’ with appointments and underlined the need for ‘targeted support and training’.
Robin Allen QC, Chair of the Bar Council’s Equality and Diversity Committee, said: ‘We cannot go on having no [ethnic ninority] applications for senior judicial roles. The rule of law requires a fully diverse judiciary.
‘Once again the figures reveal the urgent need for positive action,’ he said.
The Bar Council is working in partnership to develop a programme of pre-application judicial education for those thinking of applying, with places reserved for people from under-represented groups.
More positively, of the 21 new deputy High Court judges announced last month, seven were women, five were solicitors and some were the first in their family to have attended university.
There is an ‘urgent need’ for positive action to increase the number of women and ethnic minority lawyers on the bench, the Bar Council said after statistics revealed a ‘serious problem’ with appointments.
The latest figures released by the Judicial Appointments Commission revealed that ethnic minority candidates made up 20% of applicants, but only 6% of appointments, they were disproportionately less likely to succeed in applying to be High Court and Circuit Judges, and none had applied for senior judicial roles.
Women made up 42% of applicants, but accounted for only 35% of appointments. While their success rate in applying to be High Court judges was proportionate to those who applied, women made up only 35% of the pool of applicants.
The Bar Council said the figures showed a ‘serious problem’ with appointments and underlined the need for ‘targeted support and training’.
Robin Allen QC, Chair of the Bar Council’s Equality and Diversity Committee, said: ‘We cannot go on having no [ethnic ninority] applications for senior judicial roles. The rule of law requires a fully diverse judiciary.
‘Once again the figures reveal the urgent need for positive action,’ he said.
The Bar Council is working in partnership to develop a programme of pre-application judicial education for those thinking of applying, with places reserved for people from under-represented groups.
More positively, of the 21 new deputy High Court judges announced last month, seven were women, five were solicitors and some were the first in their family to have attended university.
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
