Key findings
Based on 2024 earnings data:
- Women were earning less than men across all experience levels at the self-employed Bar. Junior women were earning 76% of what junior men were earning. Women silks were earning on average 72% of their male colleagues’ median gross earnings
- Earnings gaps persist across every post-qualification experience (PQE) band. The highest earning men were consistently earning more than the highest earning women
- There were earnings gaps in every area of practice. The widest gaps were in commercial and Chancery practice, where women at 11-15 years PQE were earning 63% of their male colleagues’ median fee income
- During the previous 4 years (2021-2024), median earnings at the Bar increased for both men and women. However, women’s earnings increased by less than men’s. This means the gap is still increasing
The report builds on previous reports:
- 2021 report - based on 20 years of anonymous data on earnings from the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund (BMIF)
- 2022 update report
- 2023 update report
- New practitioner earnings differentials, published in April 2024
- 2024 update report
To support the recommendations, the earnings data reports are supplemented by our Earnings toolkit for chambers to calculate work distribution within sets and our Practice review guide for barristers and clerks which outlines review processes. This year we've also launched a new guide on Fair access to work.
