The percentage of women at the bar has increased only marginally over the last five years according to new research compiled by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and Bar Council and issued yesterday (22 March).
The Bar Barometer, shows women made up 34.4% of the practising bar in 2009-10, compared with just under 33% in 2005-06. In total there were 5,259 practising female barristers during 2009-10 compared with 4,814 five years ago – an increase of around 9%. In contrast the number of practising male barristers increased from 9,809 to 10,011 (just over 2%) over the same period.
