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outreach. DCR judges aim to encourage legal professionals from minority and
under-represented groups to consider applying for a judicial appointment and
support the Lord Chief Justice in his statutory duty to increase diversity in the
judiciary.

4.9. The Judicial Diversity Committee of the Judges’ Council is also involved in
judicial outreach initiatives and administers a range of diversity schemes. Its
most recent report outlines an Action Plan for the period April 2019 – March
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2020 which includes: encouraging a broad range of applicants from diverse
personal and professional backgrounds and supporting them to apply for a
judicial appointment; and developing strategies to enable career development
and progression of underrepresented groups within the judiciary.

4.10. We welcome all of these efforts to strengthen the knowledge and skills base
of candidates. We have, however, been unable to uncover information about
the success of such schemes. The Work Psychology Group’s latest report was
supportive of such schemes, while noting that there were no statistically
significant differences in outcomes for Deputy High Court judge exercises
based on participation in the Judicial Work Shadowing Scheme. It is
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obviously important that these schemes are regularly monitored and evaluated,
with a view to demonstrating their worth as an investment both for candidates
and for the system and that they are adjusted if they prove not to make any
difference.

4.11. The Working Party is strongly of the view that more bespoke mentoring and
support should be offered to non-traditional candidates, including solicitors.
Barristers with judicial aspirations have access to role models, possible mentors
and advisers from within their own Chambers. In the course of our evidence
gathering, we have learned of numerous senior judges who are personally

164 ‘Diversity and Community Relations Judiciary’, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, available online at
https://www.judiciary.uk/you-and-the-judiciary/judiciary-within-the-community/diversity-and-
community-relations-judiciary/
165 Judicial Diversity Committee of the Judges’ Council, ‘Annual Report 2019’, available online at
https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Judicial-Committee-Annual-Report-2019-20-7-
6-19.-v5.pdf
166 Working Psychology Group, ‘Review of JAC Shortlisting Tools – Summary Report &
Conclusions’, July 2018, available online at
https://www.judicialappointments.gov.uk/sites/default/files/sync/about_the_jac/research-shortlisting-
tools-report-2018.pdf.
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