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Almost two-thirds of those who left the Bar on the Western Circuit over the last six years were women, a survey revealed.
The study, by the Western Circuit Women’s Forum, revealed that since 2012, 45 barristers had taken breaks from work and 47 had quit the Bar. While almost all of the men who left became judges or retired, the vast majority of women were forced to leave midcareer due to the difficulty of balancing their work and family commitments.
The survey for the Back to the Bar report found that a significant proportion of women who left the Bar could have been retained with changes to working patterns and culture.
While many women on the Western Circuit have taken parental leave and successfully returned to work, the report said that 60% had found it difficult to return to work. Male barristers rarely took parental leave for any significant period, and none had reported taking parental leave for six weeks or more.
To improve the situation, the report recommended highlighting examples of good practice in supporting women returning to work, developing ‘back-to-work’ programmes for women returners and setting out best practice for chambers to stay in touch with tenants who take leave, and structure their return to work.
It suggested flexible rent provisions for those taking longer breaks from practice; raising awareness among regulatory bodies, the wider profession and the judiciary of the challenges faced by women at the Bar; and greater understanding of the reasonable adjustments that could be made to court listing procedures to accommodate the needs of those with care responsibilities and enable greater predictability in working patterns.
Training clerks to increase their understanding and appreciation of difficulties facing working parents, and improving networking opportunities and mentoring programmes would also help, it said.
Almost two-thirds of those who left the Bar on the Western Circuit over the last six years were women, a survey revealed.
The study, by the Western Circuit Women’s Forum, revealed that since 2012, 45 barristers had taken breaks from work and 47 had quit the Bar. While almost all of the men who left became judges or retired, the vast majority of women were forced to leave midcareer due to the difficulty of balancing their work and family commitments.
The survey for the Back to the Bar report found that a significant proportion of women who left the Bar could have been retained with changes to working patterns and culture.
While many women on the Western Circuit have taken parental leave and successfully returned to work, the report said that 60% had found it difficult to return to work. Male barristers rarely took parental leave for any significant period, and none had reported taking parental leave for six weeks or more.
To improve the situation, the report recommended highlighting examples of good practice in supporting women returning to work, developing ‘back-to-work’ programmes for women returners and setting out best practice for chambers to stay in touch with tenants who take leave, and structure their return to work.
It suggested flexible rent provisions for those taking longer breaks from practice; raising awareness among regulatory bodies, the wider profession and the judiciary of the challenges faced by women at the Bar; and greater understanding of the reasonable adjustments that could be made to court listing procedures to accommodate the needs of those with care responsibilities and enable greater predictability in working patterns.
Training clerks to increase their understanding and appreciation of difficulties facing working parents, and improving networking opportunities and mentoring programmes would also help, it said.
Update from the Chair of the Bar
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
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Grok around and find out – or not? Mariya Peykova investigates the nudification scandal, what the law has to say about sexually explicit deepfakes, and whether stronger regulation is needed
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts
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