Page 27 - Judicial Diversity Update report

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2.21. The SRA’s 2017 diversity analysis concluded that the prospects of becoming
a partner are higher for white males than for any other group across all types
of firms. It noted that BAME women are particularly disadvantaged in
progressing in the profession.
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Conclusions in respect of gender

2.22. Of all diversity characteristics, gender has seen the most positive developments
over the last two years, with noticeable gains in the proportion of women at the
Circuit bench particularly. However significant challenges remain.

2.23. First, women are not applying to the High Court in in line with their proportion
of the eligible pool. There needs to be serious investigation into why this is the
case.

2.24. The Senior Salaries Review Body report cites women candidates’ reservations
about the inflexibility of judicial sitting, lack of certainty about the location of
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their sitting and the demands of going on circuit. We have received similar

evidence in preparing this Update.Our 2017 report explained the reluctance of
women who have navigated successful careers in the law to make a jump into
the unknown of the judiciary. Our earlier recommendations on possible return
to practice would go some way to addressing their unease. It should be noted
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that for some women the fact that the High Court remains overwhelmingly
male itself acts a disincentive.

54 The SRA’s diversity tool presents aggregated findings from law firms, however it does not cover in-
house solicitors, GLS and CPS solicitors.
55 Dr Sundeep Aulakh et al, Mapping advantages and disadvantages: Diversity in the legal profession
in England and Wales, Final Report for the Solicitors Regulation Authority, 2017, available online at
https://www.sra.org.uk//globalassets/documents/sra/research/diversity-legal-
profession.pdf?version=4a1ac7. We understand that BAME women represent just 1% of QCs.
56 Review Body on Senior Salaries, Supplement to the Fortieth Annual Report on Senior Salaries
2018, Report No. 90: Major Review of the Judicial Salary Structure, October 2018, available online at
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/751
903/Supp_to_the_SSRB_Fortieth_Annual_Report_2018_Major_Review_of_the_Judicial_Salary_Stru
cture.pdf
57 JUSTICE, Increasing Judicial Diversity (2017), available online at https://justice.org.uk/wp-
content/uploads/2017/04/JUSTICE-Increasing-judicial-diversity-report-2017-web.pdf, p.70.
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