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Britain is still “deeply elitist”, according to a study of the background of 4,000 law, media and political leaders in UK public life.
Elitist Britain?, published by the Commission on Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission in August, highlighted a “dramatic over-representation” of those educated at independent schools and Oxbridge, “so stark that it could be called social engineering”.
The judiciary topped the elite list: 71% of senior judges attended independent schools (compared to 7% of the public as a whole) – and 75% attended Oxford or Cambridge (compared to 1% of the public). Only 4% of 150 senior judges went to comprehensive school – the lowest figure for all groups. Lord Neuberger, President of the Supreme Court, told UKSC Blog in September that although representation will improve over time, “it will be too slow unless we do something to make it happen”.
He supported the idea of a “career judiciary” with a potential fast-track for people with dependents who needed more regular hours and where reasonable holidays can more easily be taken: an option also favoured by former Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge.
“An individual could enter it at, say, the age of thirty-five as a junior tribunal member or possibly a district judge and work their way up [but] it’s a very difficult exercise because it’s important to make sure others coming from a more traditional career aren’t then overlooked,” Lord Neuberger said. Meanwhile, the Bar Council’s social mobility strategy is focused on tackling the three largest barriers to fair access to the profession – cash, contact and confidence. Writing in Counsel, Social Mobility Committee Chair Taryn Lee QC said the Bar has “a long history of professionalism, tradition and custom, so naturally a particular culture will have arisen” but “if you believe, as we do, that we need to create a Bar of all and for all, then we all have a responsibility to ensure that background is no barrier” (August p 10).
The judiciary topped the elite list: 71% of senior judges attended independent schools (compared to 7% of the public as a whole) – and 75% attended Oxford or Cambridge (compared to 1% of the public). Only 4% of 150 senior judges went to comprehensive school – the lowest figure for all groups. Lord Neuberger, President of the Supreme Court, told UKSC Blog in September that although representation will improve over time, “it will be too slow unless we do something to make it happen”.
He supported the idea of a “career judiciary” with a potential fast-track for people with dependents who needed more regular hours and where reasonable holidays can more easily be taken: an option also favoured by former Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge.
“An individual could enter it at, say, the age of thirty-five as a junior tribunal member or possibly a district judge and work their way up [but] it’s a very difficult exercise because it’s important to make sure others coming from a more traditional career aren’t then overlooked,” Lord Neuberger said. Meanwhile, the Bar Council’s social mobility strategy is focused on tackling the three largest barriers to fair access to the profession – cash, contact and confidence. Writing in Counsel, Social Mobility Committee Chair Taryn Lee QC said the Bar has “a long history of professionalism, tradition and custom, so naturally a particular culture will have arisen” but “if you believe, as we do, that we need to create a Bar of all and for all, then we all have a responsibility to ensure that background is no barrier” (August p 10).
Britain is still “deeply elitist”, according to a study of the background of 4,000 law, media and political leaders in UK public life.
Elitist Britain?, published by the Commission on Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission in August, highlighted a “dramatic over-representation” of those educated at independent schools and Oxbridge, “so stark that it could be called social engineering”.
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
