The Inner Temple has moved to boost the number of women and ethnic minority barristers on its ruling council – or bench – in the wake of a report that highlighted the chronic lack of women and minorities among the Inns of Court’s leadership.

Under changes to the selection rules that were agreed last week, the bench’s selection committee – which is made up of existing benchers – has been instructed to actively search for new recruits, rather than waiting for them to be nominated.