Home

Our blog

Her Bar has created their own blog discussing every day issues and triumphs that women barristers experience whilst at the Bar. Please find our newest articles below...

Category
October 2022
Everyday life as a barrister

Rachel Bale, founder of Her Bar and recently appointed commercial and chancery tenant at 3PB Barristers gives you a personal insight into her Pupillage experience, providing tips and guidance to navigate the ‘year-round interview’. Do you agree with her?

How to Survive Pupillage by Rachel Bale, Her Bar Founder

September 2022
Career Progression

Shanzé Shah is a pupil barrister at the Government Legal Department. She gives her perspective on the experience needed when seeking pupillage and provides and encourages applicants to take initiative...

The importance of taking initiative when pursuing pupillage…

July 2022
Clerking

Her Bar interviews Natalie Bryan, Junior Clerk at 3PB Winchester as to what life as a Junior Clerk is really like...and a woman clerk at that!

Day in the Life of a Junior Clerk

Quam occaecati hic. Sit et eaque consequuntur dolore similique et id itaque quas. Nihil dolores itaque delectus expedita distinctio. Quas quos sapiente rem in cupiditate molestiae. Ipsam tempore et. Distinctio laboriosam et ipsa error rerum
June 2022
Health & wellbeing

Anya Smirnova is a solicitor-turned-coach and mum of two. She runs her coaching practice Smirnova Coaching. She is the co-founder of the Mindful Return UK maternity leave course and co-host of the Lawyer Life Experiment podcast. Her mission is to support individuals in high-pressure jobs go through life shifts because "shift happens!" Read her article for invaluable tips and guidance on how to balance life commitments with pressures of being a barrister, ensuring to always take time out to listen to your inner voice telling you what you need.

How to balance your work and life commitments as a woman barrister

May 2022
Career Progression

Professor Felicity Gerry QC Queen’s Counsel at Libertas Chambers, London and Crockett Chambers, Melbourne shares her thoughts and tips on how best to progress your career. She encourages you to be confident in your ability and proud of your achievements. Be prepared to learn from your experiences and don’t assume we have the best justice system in the world – although it is probably better with you in it.

Professor Felicity Gerry QC shares her thoughts on progressing your career

April 2022
Career Progression

Her Bar shares a summary of some of the findings discussed during an informal forum run by Sarah Hannett QC and Lorna Skinner QC, alongside Zoe Leventhal and Sara Mansoori at Matrix Chambers. The forum discussed the pitfalls, fears and practical tips about taking silk...

EVENT SUMMARY: Demystifying The Journey To Silk

March 2022
Everyday life as a barrister

Some invaluable advice by Serena Varatharajah, Pupil Barrister at 1 High Pavement Barristers, who took 3 years to get pupillage. Having studied law at the University of Leicester and undertaken her Bar Exams at the University of Law, Serena gained significant experience of the legal profession through working as a paralegal at the HMRC and as a paralegal with responsibility for GDPR within a large commercial operation. Read her tips and guidance to help prepare you for the Pupillage Hunt 2022.

Pupillage Hunt: Grit and Determination Required

January 2022
Everyday life as a barrister

Stefania Patuto, Immigration Barrister at Richmond Chambers discusses what life at the employed bar really entails, the benefits she receives and how her journey began. A true insight into the often overlooked area of the Employed Bar and how this can benefit women barristers more specifically.

Life at the Employed Bar

December 2021
Women's Issues

Elicia Maxwell, BAME female law student at the University of Birmingham and member of the Race and Rights pro bono group aims to become a barrister in the future working in the fields of youth justice, terrorism, and firearms. She writes about the constant struggles women still face at the Bar but also how influential women in law have overcome them. An excellent insight from an aspiring Barrister...

Women’s efforts in Law

October 2021
Women's Issues

Ninety-nine years on from Dr Ivy Williams’ call to the Bar in May 1922, formal equality for women in the profession has yet to translate into practical equality. Women are under-represented among QCs . Women barristers earn, on average, less than their male counterparts even taking into account seniority, specialism and geography. Women from minority backgrounds earn less still. And many women pupils and barristers experience bullying or harassment – far more than report such treatment to the Regulator. So why has close on a century of formal equality failed to produce equality of opportunity or outcome for women barristers? And what is the role and responsibility of the Regulator – the Bar Standards Board – in putting this right?

BSB: "Diversity and Regulation at the Bar" by Mark Neale

About