Charter for women in law launched

Women in the Law UK has launched a Charter for law firms and barristers’ chambers committed to promoting more women to leadership roles.

The Charter, launched last week in Manchester at Women in Law’s annual dinner, marks this year’s centenary of the lifting of the bar on women in the legal profession. Criteria for awarding the Charter include actively promoting the retention of women lawyers, actively promoting the progression of BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) women, and demonstrably supporting the activities of Women in the Law UK.

Sally Penni, founder of Women in the Law UK, said: ‘We have made huge strides as a profession since the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act was passed in 1919, enabling women to practise the law for the first time, and the mood at last week’s dinner was, quite rightly, celebratory.

‘The Charter both recognises the achievements made by forward-looking firms and provides a benchmark to which others can aspire. I would encourage all legal businesses that are serious about gender diversity to apply.’