• Home /
• Statewatch Database /
• Women Legal Staff

Women Legal Staff

01 January 1991

Women Legal Staff
bacdoc December=1991

Hansard written answer 4.5.89 Cols 212-3

Mr Vaz asked the Attorney-General how many female (a)
barristers, (b) magistrates, (c) solicitors, (d) judges, (e)
recorders and (f) court clerks are (i) employed and (ii)
qualified in the United Kingdom according to the latest
available figures.

The Attorney-General replied that such figures as are available
for England and Wales are as follows:

(a) Barristers
As at 1 October 1988 there were 940 women practising
barristers. In addition 309 women employed barristers are
recorded as paying the Bar subscription. giving a total of
1,249 known active women barristers.
(b) magistrates
As at 1 January 1989 there were 12,214 women lay
magistrates. In addition, there are eight women full-time
metropolitan stipendiary magistrates; four women acting
Metropolitan stipendiary magistrates; and three women acting
provincial stipendiary magistrates.
(c) Solicitors
In 1987-88 (the latest period for which figures arc
available), 10,062 women Solicitors held practising certifi-
cates. In 1988, there were 13,046 women solicitors on the
roll.
(d) Judges
There is one woman Lord Justice of Appeal. One woman
High Court judge, and there arc 17 women Circuit judges.
(e) Recorders
There are 29 women recorders.
(f) Court Clerks
As at 31 December 1988 there were 12 women clerks to
the justices. There are, in addition, 112 women chief
clerks of Crown and County courts.