Legal profession marks six years of Women in Law Pledge

Law Society, Bar Council and CILEX reflect on progress and renew calls for gender equality in the profession

Bar Council chair Barbara Mills KC Photo courtesy of the Bar Council

The Law Society, the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) have marked the sixth anniversary of the Women in Law Pledge with renewed calls for gender equality in the legal profession. 

The pledge was launched in June 2019 by former Law Society president Christina Blacklaws and represented a commitment by key professional bodies to advance gender equality across the profession.

Law Society president Richard Atkinson, who leads an all-male officeholder team, commemorated the anniversary by recognising the collective achievements of pledge signatories, while stressing that progress towards gender parity remained slow.

“Women represent more than half (53%) of the profession yet hold only around a third (32%) of the most senior positions in law firms,” Atkinson noted.

He emphasised that targeted initiatives delivered results: “Through ongoing conversations and insight gathered at roundtables, signatories are reinforcing their commitment and working to create workplaces where everyone feels valued, respected and safe.”

Looking ahead, the Law Society planned to extend its support for local law societies and law schools, which Atkinson described as “uniquely positioned to promote the pledge”.

The anniversary comes as the Law Society prepares for a change in leadership this July, with the upcoming appointment of Dana Denis-Smith OBE as the Law Society’s deputy vice president.

Denis-Smith, a solicitor and entrepreneur, is well known for raising the profile of female leadership within the legal field. Her contributions were recognised with an OBE in the December 2024 New Year’s Honours List.

Atkinson added: “We are committed to building a more inclusive profession – because when we do, everyone benefits. It strengthens trust in legal services, encourages innovation and ensures we can attract and retain the best talent.”

He urged firms and practitioners to support the initiative, as did Bar Council chair, Barbara Mills KC, the first Black woman to hold the post.

Mills, winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Women and Diversity in Law Awards, as organised by this title, said great strides had been taken to make impactful progress on women’s equality at the Bar.

Mills said: “The picture has changed enormously over the years – women have now occupied almost all the important spaces. This year, for the first time in the Bar Council’s 132-year history, we have an all-female leadership team. And about time too.”

Mills added: “While the presence of women in law has grown, true equity remains a work in progress. Disparities persist for earnings and opportunities for career progression, particularly for women of colour.”

She stated that achieving a genuinely inclusive legal profession required “ongoing commitment and focus”, which the pledge assisted by offering a framework for “action and accountability”. More than 36 leading sets having signed it, with Mill saying she would encourage others to follow suit in the coming years.

CILEX also contributed to the anniversary reflections, noting that women comprise 77% of its membership. However, it also expressed concern over the continued underrepresentation of women in senior roles and a persistent gender pay gap. “Significant progress has been made, but we are still failing to see enough female lawyers making it into senior positions,” a spokesperson said.

CILEX observed that, since the pledge was introduced, more firms had adopted gender equality action plans, measurable targets and greater transparency. However, actual change, they argued, “comes from the top and requires a commitment to culture change to remove the barriers holding women back”. CILEX added it hoped “to see organisations continuing to commit to the pledge and initiatives that support women at every point in their careers”. 

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