*/
Almost two-thirds of the lawyers recruited to become judges last year went to state schools, according to the latest figures from the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC).
The data was based on 28 selection exercises conducted in the year ending March 2018, for which 5,125 lawyers applied and 729 were recommended for appointment.
In the legal competitions, 63% of those recommended for immediate appointment were educated at a state school, compared to 35% who went to fee-paying schools, with 2% educated abroad. In addition, 59% were the first in their family to have attended university.
Overall, 40% of those recommended for immediate appointment were women, only 9% came from a black or ethnic minority background and 7% said that they had a disability.
Barristers still accounted for most applications and appointments – solicitors made up 36% of applicants and 21% of those recommended, while barristers represented 50% of applicants and 59% of those recommended.
When it came to appointments to the High Court, 52% had attended a state school and 47% had been educated privately, 27% were female and 5% were from an ethic minority background.
The JAC statistics suggest that the judiciary, which has traditionally been dominated by white men who attended private schools, may slowly be becoming more diverse, although more than 70% of senior judges are from private schools.
Almost two-thirds of the lawyers recruited to become judges last year went to state schools, according to the latest figures from the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC).
The data was based on 28 selection exercises conducted in the year ending March 2018, for which 5,125 lawyers applied and 729 were recommended for appointment.
In the legal competitions, 63% of those recommended for immediate appointment were educated at a state school, compared to 35% who went to fee-paying schools, with 2% educated abroad. In addition, 59% were the first in their family to have attended university.
Overall, 40% of those recommended for immediate appointment were women, only 9% came from a black or ethnic minority background and 7% said that they had a disability.
Barristers still accounted for most applications and appointments – solicitors made up 36% of applicants and 21% of those recommended, while barristers represented 50% of applicants and 59% of those recommended.
When it came to appointments to the High Court, 52% had attended a state school and 47% had been educated privately, 27% were female and 5% were from an ethic minority background.
The JAC statistics suggest that the judiciary, which has traditionally been dominated by white men who attended private schools, may slowly be becoming more diverse, although more than 70% of senior judges are from private schools.
Update from the Chair of the Bar
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
AlphaBiolabs has been awarded the contract to provide drug, alcohol, and DNA testing services for Hull City Council, following a rigorous competitive tender process
By Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group
Modernising communication and collaboration at a leading Chancery set. A Zexi case study
How to build profile without compromising professional duties. By Naumaan Farooq, Co-Founder of Inked PR
A decade of reviews and research has disrupted accepted thinking in the search for causality. Suicides following abuse have overtaken domestic homicides. Is the law keeping up? Professor Susan Edwards KC (Hon) examines recent cases and the obstacles to successful prosecution
At least not that way, says Richard Paige
The case against judge-only justice – and why efficiency is not enough. By Professor Leslie Thomas KC
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Lauren Fullerton examines the how, what and why of setting up a second chambers base
