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Aren't we missing the point here – discrimination is unlawful unless objectively justified.

As someone who has been in the legal profession for 3 decades, I can say that I have been quite frankly appalled by the behaviour and attitude of a lot of women I've worked with, particularly with how readily they will abuse their power and bully others and join in bullying as well as often having a poor attitude to their work. One example was a female colleague a few years complaining to everyone that she'd forgotten to save a document in Word as though everyone else was immediately obliged to stop their own work and solve the problem for her! Equally, you might well find Mrs 'Conveyancing Partner' in the High Street coming in at 8.59am and still yacking at reception at 11am whilst on her fifth cup of tea.

However, it is very wrong to stigmatise all female lawyers and of course, there are plenty of them who are hardworking and conscientious and who don't seek to abuse their status or to bully or annoy colleagues. But regrettably they may well be the ones who either don't get promoted or who are paid (significantly) less than their male counterparts. The vicious circle continues…