Bar bids to improve retention of women with flexible policy

The Bar Council adopted a new maternity, paternity and flexible working policy last week in a bid to improve retention rates among women at the bar.

Under the policy, which applies to adoptive parents as well, chambers should put written policies in place allowing members to take career breaks and work flexible hours, part time or partly from home to enable them to remain in practice while managing their family responsibilities.

A barrister's tenant seat should also be left open for a minimum of one year while on maternity leave, with six months free of rent and chambers expenses.

The guidelines also state that partners with responsibility for or share in the care of a child should be offered a minimum of one month's leave free of chambers rent and expenses.

The launch of the policy comes after the Bar Council's 2003 annual report showed that 51% of the 1,502 people called to the bar last year were women - the first time more women than men were called in the profession's history (see [2004] Gazette, 8 April, 3).

The most recent figures available for solicitors showed that women accounted for 56% of admissions.

However, the council's 2003 report also revealed that women still only account for slightly less than one-third of the practising bar, rising to 43% of the employed bar, amid concerns about the numbers of women who leave after five or six years of practice.

Jane McNeill QC, who presented the new policy on behalf of the Bar Council, said: 'It is more important than ever that family life is accommodated.

Retention of women at the bar is vital for the future of the profession and we hope these proposals go some way to address this.'

The Bar Council's equal opportunities officers will provide chambers with advice and model policies.

A course of diversity training for barristers is also being developed for inclusion in its continuing professional development programme.

Philip Hoult