Make-up of the Bar

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has published its annual report for 2015 on the diversity of the profession. It notes that women are even with men at the point of pupillage but under-represented at the practising Bar. It also cites evidence that black and minority ethnic barristers are also under-represented at the Bar, and not progressing to QC status at the same rate as white barristers. BSB director of regulatory policy Ewen MacLeod says: “We are complementing [this report] with further projects such as the recent women at the Bar survey which has been designed to provide evidence about the challenges and experiences of different segments of the Bar.”