Britain’s most senior female judge has said cuts to legal aid will lead to more “public schoolboys” and fewer talented women reaching the pinnacle of the profession.
Baroness Hale of Richmond has made a stinging critique of government plans to cut publicly funded legal assistance, saying the plans will make it difficult for female barristers to earn a living that would cover childcare costs.
Only 12 per cent of barristers are women, but she suggested that this figure could drop as women are more likely to be concerned about having a career that can fund a comfortable family life. She suggests that this will help men from privileged backgrounds, who dominate the profession, to get ahead.
Though experienced barristers who have built up their practices