Commenting on the latest judicial diversity statistics, Amanda Pinto QC, Chair of the Bar Council, said:
“It’s helpful to see the legal profession’s diversity statistics alongside those of the judiciary. The Bar Council along with all members of the Judicial Diversity Forum have more to do independently of each other to improve the judiciary’s performance in terms of inclusivity: the judiciary in continuing to attract lawyers of all backgrounds and in supporting movement within and up their ranks; the JAC in looking at the disparities between applications, especially from candidates from ethnic minority groups, and those actually being shortlisted and appointed; and the professions in supporting the retention of diverse and talented lawyers to reach the levels of experience required to be a judge.
“We are well aware of the challenges we face in ensuring our profession becomes more diverse, for many reasons, including to support judicial diversity. The Bar Council’s Modernising the Bar initiatives and programmes will play a key role in that effort.
“We will also continue to work with our JDF partners to gain a greater understanding of the reasons behind some of the trends in the judiciary’s make-up, including investigating under-performance in Recorder competitions – a key area of interest for the Bar as the stepping stone for most seeking a judicial career.”
ENDS