*/
The percentage of women at the Bar has remained unchanged over the last five years, figures released by the Bar Standards Board revealed.
While almost half of those called to the Bar are women, they are leaving in disproportionate numbers compared to men and still make up only around 36% of the practising Bar (an increase of 0.9% since 2014) and a figure that has not changed significantly since 2010.
There remains a slow rate of progression and women account for only 13% of QCs.
Commenting on the Bar Council’s Momentum Measures report, the Bar Standards Board said that gender balance among practising barristers ‘is unlikely to be achieved if current trends persist’.
The figures for ethnic minority barristers have remained almost static, at 12%, up only 1% on the previous year. While only 1.5% class themselves as having a disability, up 0.5% from a year ago.
Barristers appeared reluctant to declare details of their sexual orientation, religion or socio-economic background. The BSB’s data showed that more that 70% of the Bar did not disclose any of these details. Fewer than 1% said they were male homosexuals and only 0.2% said they were lesbians.
The figures were published as the BSB launched a survey to gather information on women’s experiences of the equality rules of the BSB Handbook, which were introduced in 2012. The results will be used to review the rules to see whether further regulation is needed to improve the retention and progression of women.
BSB director-general, Dr Vanessa Davies, said: ‘I don’t think any of us should be prepared to tolerate a situation where half of those called to the Bar are female but women then leave the profession to an extent that they become outnumbered two to one later on.’
The percentage of women at the Bar has remained unchanged over the last five years, figures released by the Bar Standards Board revealed.
While almost half of those called to the Bar are women, they are leaving in disproportionate numbers compared to men and still make up only around 36% of the practising Bar (an increase of 0.9% since 2014) and a figure that has not changed significantly since 2010.
There remains a slow rate of progression and women account for only 13% of QCs.
Commenting on the Bar Council’s Momentum Measures report, the Bar Standards Board said that gender balance among practising barristers ‘is unlikely to be achieved if current trends persist’.
The figures for ethnic minority barristers have remained almost static, at 12%, up only 1% on the previous year. While only 1.5% class themselves as having a disability, up 0.5% from a year ago.
Barristers appeared reluctant to declare details of their sexual orientation, religion or socio-economic background. The BSB’s data showed that more that 70% of the Bar did not disclose any of these details. Fewer than 1% said they were male homosexuals and only 0.2% said they were lesbians.
The figures were published as the BSB launched a survey to gather information on women’s experiences of the equality rules of the BSB Handbook, which were introduced in 2012. The results will be used to review the rules to see whether further regulation is needed to improve the retention and progression of women.
BSB director-general, Dr Vanessa Davies, said: ‘I don’t think any of us should be prepared to tolerate a situation where half of those called to the Bar are female but women then leave the profession to an extent that they become outnumbered two to one later on.’
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Developing a tech start-up demands a different definition of excellence to the Bar, says Saara Idelbi. The co-creator of Advocatr on entrepreneurship, AI advocacy training, and matching the thrill of a killer cross-examination
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
