How women are getting a fairer hearing in the courts

IT HAS been over 100 years since the first woman was called to the Bar in 1922. Ivy Williams was the first woman to qualify as a barrister, and whilst she did not practice, she did go on to teach law.

- By AMY WALKER

Fast forward to today, and female representation within the criminal justice system has massively improved. Statistics from the government's Diversity in the Judiciary initiative show that as of December 2024, 40 per cent of barristers are female, 43 per cent of judges are female, 77 per cent of chartered legal executives are female and 53 per cent of solicitors are female.

While representation has improved, barristers working in Manchester have seen there is still a 'long way to go'.

"I have recently done a trial where there was a female judge, female prosecutor, female barrister and female juniors," said criminal defence barrister Rebecca Penfold. "It was noted but it should not be noted.

"It is never noted when it is an all-male court. By stopping it being noted we will have seen the change we need." Ms Penfold had aspired to be a criminal lawyer from a young age, with the strong belief that 'everyone had the right to a voice and a right to challenge things'.

"I knew I wanted to speak up for people," she told the Manchester Evening News.

Whilst there has been huge progress with more female juniors, the Bar is seeing less women at a senior level, with less female barristers taking silk.