Report highlights women’s role in legal profession

A report, by a University of Ulster lecturer, which examined the under-representation of women in judicial posts and those working as senior barristers, has made a number of wide-ranging recommendations.

The main recommendation is the establishment of a working party to examine the role of women in the legal profession in Northern Ireland.

Other recommendations in the report entitled – Applications by Women for Silk and Judicial Office in Northern Ireland - include safeguards against gender discrimination; more encouragement for women to seek high legal office; improved communication of information about appointments and extension of practical assistance such as work-shadowing of judges.

The research conducted by Dermot Feenan, a lecturer in the School of Law at the University, comes a week after the launch of the Judicial Appointments Commission – a panel of legal and lay people – which will oversee the appointment of judges in Northern Ireland.

The latest evidence shows that there are 166 women holders of judicial office in Northern Ireland, ranging from County Court judges to chairs of tribunals.

At just 18%, the number of women holding high legal office in Northern Ireland remains low when compared to other countries.

In 2004, 24.9% of the judiciary in England and Wales were women; 15.8% sat on the bench.

As of September 2004, 8% of the total number of High Court Judges were women.

(MB/SP)