Moreover, the earnings gap increased in certain practice areas. In immigration, earnings decreased overall and the gap widened from 33% to 38% in 2021. In contentious chancery, earnings rose overall, but women earned 39% less than men (compared to 38% less in 2020). In personal injury, fee income decreased overall, and women earned 53% less than men (52% in 2020).
However, earnings gender equality improved among those practising in commercial and financial services law (from a 57% gap to 51%), in crime (from 38% to 35%) and in employment law (from 16% to 6%).
Conversely, women barristers earn more than men in only two areas—defamation (women earn 36% more) and family (children) (women have always out-earned men in this area and earned 3% more in 2021). However, men out-earned women by 43% in family (other).
The data is taken from the Bar Council’s report, published last week, ‘Barrister earnings by sex and practice area: 2022 update’, and shows the gap between men and women’s earnings overall has reduced from 39% in 2020 to 34% in 2021. This was due to men earning 5% less and women 6% more, which may be an anomaly caused by the pandemic.
The report is compiled using anonymous income data from self-employed barristers shared by Bar Mutual Insurance Fund during the professional insurance renewal process.
Chair of the Bar Mark Fenhalls KC said: ‘This year’s data analysis shows there remains a long way to go to close the earnings gap, particularly in the higher earning practice areas.
‘Through the Bar Council’s modernising the Bar programme we are focused on evidence-based and practical actions to tackle inequalities at the Bar. Chambers can make a significant difference through ensuring fair distribution of work, including briefing practices, marketing opportunities, and support for new barristers and those returning to the Bar.’
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