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02 July 2021 / Elizabeth Johnson
Issue: 7939 / Categories: Features , Profession
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A career in the judiciary—open to all?

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District Tribunal Judge Elizabeth Johnson reflects on her journey to the bench & the need for wider representation
  • Judge Elizabeth Johnson shares her experiences of becoming a judge and encourages other CILEX members as well as lawyers from under-represented groups to follow suit.

There is still considerable under-representation of women and ethnic minorities in our judiciary. Current figures show that although the proportion of women judges is increasing gradually, they still only represent 32% of all judges and 26% of High Court roles or above.

Black, Asian and minority ethnic people represent 8% of court judges and 12% of tribunal judges and research by the Sutton Trust shows that two-thirds of the most senior judges in England and Wales were privately educated.

More progress is needed to ensure the judiciary better reflects the society it serves. We are on the right track, but we need to draw more experienced lawyers from across the whole profession, not just the Bar.

I would like to encourage those who might have previously

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Flint Bishop—Charlotte Harris

Flint Bishop—Charlotte Harris

Sheffield expansion continues with appointment of commercial property partner

Browne Jacobson—Paul Duggan

Browne Jacobson—Paul Duggan

Browne Jacobson strengthens banking and finance practice with latest partner appointment Paul Duggan

Ward Hadaway—Chris Piggott

Ward Hadaway—Chris Piggott

Employment partner joins Ward Hadaway

NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

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