“Misguided” solicitor fined over offensive remark – Legal Futures

‘A veteran solicitor who made an “inappropriate and offensive remark” while trying to pay a compliment has been fined by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 30th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

What I talk about when I talk about arbitrator diversity… Why and how to make arbitral tribunals us, rather than them – Radcliffe Chambers

Posted April 16th, 2020 in arbitration, chambers articles, diversity, news by sally

‘While the range of parties before tribunals has globalised, the typical composition of those tribunals has not. The international arbitrator community has long been said to comprise a club of “elderly white men”. If that was ever quite true, it is certainly less true now, but the international arbitrator community still lags well behind its users when it comes to diversity. Does this matter?’

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Radcliffe Chambers, 15th April 2020

Source: radcliffechambers.com

Privately educated lawyers dominate corporate work – Legal Futures

‘The proportion of solicitors who attended state schools is creeping upwards, but those who went to fee-paying schools dominate corporate work, according to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).’

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Legal Futures, 31st March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

What is the hidden impact of the menopause at the Bar? – No. 5 Chambers

Posted March 17th, 2020 in barristers, barristers' clerks, diversity, menopause, news, women by sally

‘We know that retention rates for women at the Bar are poor. Women come into the profession in high numbers (there has been an approximately 50:50 gender split of those called to the Bar maintained since around 2000), but by 15 years call that drops to around 30% of barristers who are female, and only approximately 15% of all silks were women as at 2019.’

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No. 5 Chambers, 28th February 2020

Source: www.no5.com

Female family lawyers’ group to push for senior roles – Legal Futures

Posted February 25th, 2020 in diversity, family courts, legal profession, news, women by sally

‘An association for female family lawyers will be launched next month, embracing all levels of seniority from High Court judges to paralegals, with the immediate aim of creating a national mentoring scheme.’

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Legal Futures, 25th February 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Who gets silk? 2019 – Counsel

Posted February 20th, 2020 in barristers, diversity, news, queen's counsel, statistics by sally

‘Celebrating the 114 new silks – plus forensic analysis of the 2019 cohort and what it says about equality of opportunity in the profession and health of the Bar –by David Wurtzel.’

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Counsel, February 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Equitable briefing – Counsel

Posted February 19th, 2020 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, sex discrimination, statistics, women by sally

‘Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not: why equitable briefing is the most pressing practice issue for the Bar in 2020 – writes Lucy Barbet.’

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Counsel, February 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Family lawyers “disproportionately female and white” – Legal Futures

Posted February 11th, 2020 in diversity, family courts, legal profession, minorities, news, statistics by sally

‘Three-quarters of family lawyers are women, while those from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are under-represented, ground-breaking research among members of Resolution has indicated.’

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Legal Futures, 11th February 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

‘Casual sexism is still prevalent’: how close is the law to gender equality? – The Guardian

‘Almost 100 years ago, Dr Ivy Williams joined the Inner Temple as a law student. In 1922, three years after the Sex Disqualification Removal Act, she became the first woman to be called to the bar in this country. Most people have never heard of her. Although she never entered private practice, she taught law for 25 years and gave free legal advice to those who couldn’t afford it. A tireless activist and campaigner, her example paved an important road.’

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The Guardian, 4th February 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Pupils must have written agreements from May – Legal Futures

Posted February 4th, 2020 in continuing professional development, diversity, news, pupillage by sally

‘Written pupillage agreements will become compulsory from 1 May 2020, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has said.’

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Legal Futures, 4th February 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

White men still dominate judiciary, says Justice report – The Guardian

Posted January 29th, 2020 in diversity, equality, gender, judiciary, Ministry of Justice, news, statistics by sally

‘Progress to improve diversity in the judiciary is too slow and there has been stagnation in the appointment of BAME judges, according to a damning report by an influential law reform group whose head warns that senior roles are still “dominated by white men”.’

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The Guardian, 29th January 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

No shift in demographics as 114 new QCs are named – Litigation Futures

Posted January 20th, 2020 in barristers, diversity, equality, news, queen's counsel, women by sally

‘Some 114 new QCs were appointed yesterday, with the statistics showing little change in the demographics of the 258 who applied, of whom just a fifth were women.’

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Litigation Futures, 17th January 2020

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Women continue to be under-represented in top jobs across sport, law and politics, study suggests – The Independent

Posted January 13th, 2020 in diversity, employment, equality, news, sex discrimination, statistics, women by tracey

‘Women are missing out on top jobs across a variety of sectors, showing that a “step change” is needed to boost the number in senior roles, campaigners have said.’

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The Independent, 13th January 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Call for “real inclusion” rather than tick boxes at the Bar – Legal Futures

Posted December 12th, 2019 in barristers, diversity, minorities, news by tracey

‘The Bar should focus on “real inclusion” and “actionable, practical steps” to improve diversity rather than tick boxes, a black barrister and human rights activist has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 12th December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lady Hale at the BACFI Denning Lecture 2019, Athenaeum, Pall Mall, London – Supreme Court

Posted December 11th, 2019 in diversity, equality, gender, judges, legal history, legal profession, sex discrimination, women by tracey

‘Women in law –the next 100 yearsBACFI DenningLecture2019Athenaeum, Pall Mall, LondonLady Hale, President of The Supreme Court.’

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Supreme Court, 4th December 2019

A Bar for all–with fair work distribution – Counsel

Posted December 5th, 2019 in barristers, diversity, equality, legal profession, news, statistics by sally

‘Disputes do arise. Between states, in businesses, within different sectors and in small knit groups, disagreements can happen, and they can have many unwelcome consequences.’

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Counsel, December 2019

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Flexible operating hours must stop, says incoming Bar Council chair – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 4th, 2019 in barristers, courts, diversity, flexible working, news by tracey

‘Flexible operating hours in courts are “an anathema to those with caring responsibilities” and inhibit diversity at the bar, the incoming chair of the Bar Council has said.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 3rd December 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Sets without equal numbers of women “will lose work” – Legal Futures

Posted December 2nd, 2019 in barristers, diversity, equality, gender, news, remuneration, sex discrimination by tracey

‘Market forces will mean that commercial sets without a diverse gender pool at all levels will soon find themselves losing work to more gender-equal sets, according to a circuit judge who has researched equality at the Bar.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd December 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Lady Hale predicts gender parity in judiciary by 2033 – The Guardian

Posted November 25th, 2019 in diversity, equality, judges, judiciary, news, remuneration, statistics by sally

‘Gender equality in the number of judges in England and Wales should be achieved by 2033 at the current rates of progress, according to Lady Hale, the president of the supreme court.’

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The Guardian, 23rd November 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Lady Hale: Courts should learn from tribunals on diversity – Legal Futures

Posted November 12th, 2019 in diversity, judiciary, news, tribunals by sally

‘Lady Hale, president of the Supreme Court, has called on the courts to learn lessons from the tribunal service in improving the diversity of judges.’

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Legal Futures, 12th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk