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It feels as though we've stepped back to 1815...

The male candidates may feel that the cards are stacked against them? What a privileged position male lawyers have enjoyed. Alas - welcome to a woman's world Lord Sumption.

Long hours and poor working conditions unattractive to women causing a high attrition rate? Firstly, in 2015, its all about work life flow - gone are your typical working practices, as everyone (not just women) are looking to find smarter ways to work which suit their lifestyles. Secondly, there is no doubt that as the child bearers and typically primary carers, women are at a disadvantage as society isn't yet set up for supporting fully a woman's choice to orogress their careers following childbirth.

"(pictured) said that the tradition of barristers at the end of their careers at the bar going on to become judges is a ‘terrific public asset’.
‘It’s a tradition which you can destroy very easily and never recreate, not without waiting for a very long time,’ he said."
Why is this a tradition worthy of preservation? Ultimately, anyone not fit to be a judge will either not get the job in the first place, or hopefully, be managed out of the role. Also, was it not a tradition to make it through the ranks as a judge up to the Supreme Court? I'm sure that Lord Sumption would agree that some traditions are worthy of being ignored.

These statements are not helpful in anyway, other than to again demonstrate that there is a willingness to keep women away from the top jobs. But maybe that was the intention..."Judges required - Women need not apply..."