*/
A campaign of “mythbusting”, flexible working opportunities and more judicial job shadowing are some of the recommendations of Baroness Neuberger’s report into judicial diversity.
The final report of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Panel on Judicial Diversity, chaired by Baroness Neuberger, rejects the use of diversity quotas and targets for judicial appointments. Instead, there should be a “fundamental shift in approach” towards diversity at all stages of a judicial career.
The panel’s 53 recommendations include a proactive campaign of “mythbusting” to overcome false perceptions about the reality of becoming a judge, and the evolution of the Judicial Studies Board into a Judicial College to provide training for prospective judicial applicants. There should be more judicial job shadowing, law firms should encourage part-time service, and flexible working opportunities should be assumed for all judicial posts, with exceptions needing to be justified.
Judges should engage with schools and colleges to encourage students from under-represented groups, and the legal profession should actively promote judicial office among those currently not coming forward. Nick Green QC, Chairman of the Bar, said: “A vibrant and diverse Bar is very important to a vibrant and diverse judiciary. “Women and men enter the profession in equal numbers and nearly 20 per cent of pupil barristers come from visible ethnic minority backgrounds. We have implemented several schemes which educate young people who aspire to become barristers.
“The retention of diversity is a priority. To that end the Equality and Diversity Code and Maternity Leave Guidelines promote flexible working arrangements and career breaks from practice. “We run an annual seminar on ‘Managing Career Breaks’ and have appointed Diversity Mentors on every Circuit to assist career progression.”
The panel’s 53 recommendations include a proactive campaign of “mythbusting” to overcome false perceptions about the reality of becoming a judge, and the evolution of the Judicial Studies Board into a Judicial College to provide training for prospective judicial applicants. There should be more judicial job shadowing, law firms should encourage part-time service, and flexible working opportunities should be assumed for all judicial posts, with exceptions needing to be justified.
Judges should engage with schools and colleges to encourage students from under-represented groups, and the legal profession should actively promote judicial office among those currently not coming forward. Nick Green QC, Chairman of the Bar, said: “A vibrant and diverse Bar is very important to a vibrant and diverse judiciary. “Women and men enter the profession in equal numbers and nearly 20 per cent of pupil barristers come from visible ethnic minority backgrounds. We have implemented several schemes which educate young people who aspire to become barristers.
“The retention of diversity is a priority. To that end the Equality and Diversity Code and Maternity Leave Guidelines promote flexible working arrangements and career breaks from practice. “We run an annual seminar on ‘Managing Career Breaks’ and have appointed Diversity Mentors on every Circuit to assist career progression.”
A campaign of “mythbusting”, flexible working opportunities and more judicial job shadowing are some of the recommendations of Baroness Neuberger’s report into judicial diversity.
The final report of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Panel on Judicial Diversity, chaired by Baroness Neuberger, rejects the use of diversity quotas and targets for judicial appointments. Instead, there should be a “fundamental shift in approach” towards diversity at all stages of a judicial career.
Chair of the Bar reflects on 2025
Q&A with criminal barrister Nick Murphy, who moved to New Park Court Chambers on the North Eastern Circuit in search of a better work-life balance
Revolt Cycling in Holborn, London’s first sustainable fitness studio, invites barristers to join the revolution – turning pedal power into clean energy
Rachel Davenport, Co-founder and Director at AlphaBiolabs, reflects on how the company’s Giving Back ethos continues to make a difference to communities across the UK
By Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
AlphaBiolabs has made a £500 donation to Sean’s Place, a men’s mental health charity based in Sefton, as part of its ongoing Giving Back initiative
Little has changed since Burns v Burns . Cohabiting couples deserve better than to be left on the blasted heath with the existing witch’s brew for another four decades, argues Christopher Stirling
Six months of court observation at the Old Bailey: APPEAL’s Dr Nisha Waller and Tehreem Sultan report their findings on prosecution practices under joint enterprise
Despite its prevalence, autism spectrum disorder remains poorly understood in the criminal justice system. Does Alex Henry’s joint enterprise conviction expose the need to audit prisons? asks Dr Felicity Gerry KC
With automation now deeply embedded in the Department for Work Pensions, Alexander McColl and Alexa Thompson review what we know, what we don’t and avenues for legal challenge
Why were some Caribbean nations given such dramatically different constitutional frameworks when they gained independence from the UK? Dr Leonardo Raznovich examines the controversial savings clause
