*/
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.
Making a move from the Bar to a career in governance: Maria Brookes outlines three good reasons to switch and how to do it
Inés Rivera explains how speech recognition can help barristers create accurate documentation faster
What should barristers be doing on the personal finance front ahead of the end of the tax year on 5 April? Julian Morgan of Fleet Street Wealth answers your questions
Are you ready to embark on this arduous but potentially rewarding journey? Julie Gottlieb of Sherwood PSF Consulting provides a self-examination checklist, hints and tips to help you prepare for a future application
Unlocking your aged debt to augment cash flow in one easy step… By Philip N Bristow of Vector Professions Finance
The journey from a small village in Nepal to international law professor and UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights: Admas Habteslasie talks to Surya Subedi QC (Hon)
The Westminster Commission on Miscarriages of Justice, set up to revisit the work of the CCRC after 25 years of operation, identified serious issues that risk miscarriages of justice remaining unidentified or unremedied. By Edward Garnier QC Michelle Nelson QC
Unsparing in his criticism, the former Attorney General reflects on recent events in government and his own experience of being chief legal adviser. Interview by Anthony Inglese CB
Making a move from the Bar to a career in governance: Maria Brookes outlines three good reasons to switch and how to do it
Sports coaches will be caught by a change in the law that addresses the disparity in treatment for 16- to 17-year-olds, writes Cameron Brown QC