Who are the judges? LCJ pledges to improve representation

Nearly one in eight of all judges are now from ethnic minority backgrounds (12% of the total, up from 7% in 2015). However, representation of Black judges has remained at 1% of all judges, according to the judicial diversity statistics 2024-2025, published this week.

Solicitors are generally under-represented in the judiciary and tended to fare less well in judicial selection exercises. Roughly speaking, the courts judiciary is composed of 70% barristers and 30% solicitors. In the tribunals judiciary, the split is roughly 40% barristers and 60% solicitors. Taken together, the judiciary as a whole is made up 60% barristers to 40% solicitors.

Women are proportionately represented in all but the highest echelons of the judiciary—44% of all judges but only 23% in the Court of Appeal (nine Lady Justices) and 30% in the High Court (32 judges).

Among magistrates, both women and ethnic minority representation is higher than among the rest of the judiciary—57% of magistrates are women, and 14% are ethnic minority.

One in ten judges (8% in courts and 15% in tribunals) reported they are disabled. Insufficient numbers of judges declared their socio-economic background to meet the 60% threshold for publication.

Baroness Carr said: ‘I am determined to improve diversity in the judiciary. It is one of my key priorities… we will persist in our efforts to make real change.’

Law Society president, Richard Atkinson said: ‘Significant progress is still required before the judiciary can truly represent the wider society.

‘The representation of Black legal professionals on the bench has remained stubbornly stagnant for over a decade, showing that efforts to make improvements are not having the desired impact. More work needs to be done.

‘Solicitors are continuing to achieve appointments as judges at disproportionately low rates compared with barristers and the numbers are falling. Our concerns remain that until this percentage significantly increases, we will struggle to persuade our members that entry to the judiciary is a level playing field.’