Figures released by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) last week reveal a 0.6% increase in the number of female barristers in the past year, with 61.3% men still outnumbering 38% women at the practising Bar (not all participants declared).
The percentage of Black and minority ethnic (BAME) barristers also increased by 0.6%, to 13.6% of the practising Bar. BAME barristers are more likely to classify themselves as ‘Asian/Asian British’ than ‘mixed/multiple ethnic’ or ‘Black/Black British’.
Male QCs outnumber female QCs, but the percentage of female QCs increased from 15.8% to 16.2%.
The percentage of BAME QCs increased by 0.3% to 8.1%.
There are more female pupil barristers (54.8) than males (45.2%) for the fourth year in a row.
Only 6% of barristers have a disability.
BSB Head of Equality and Access to Justice, Amit Popat said: ‘While the data follow a similar trend to those seen in recent years insofar as they show a slow and steady improvement in gender and ethnic diversity at the Bar, there is more to be done before the profession can be said fully to reflect the society it serves. We urge all barristers to complete the diversity data questions when renewing their practising certificates for the year ahead.’
