Mills, joint head of chambers at 4PB, is the first specialist family practitioner in 35 years to take up the role, and the first black person and first person of colour.
She was called to the Bar in 1990, took silk in 2020 and specialises in complex children cases, often with an international element. She sits as a deputy High Court judge and has been a recorder on the South Eastern Circuit for ten years. Mills co-chairs the Bar Council’s Race Working Group.
Mills said: ‘It’s taken a long time for the excellent work of the publicly funded criminal Bar to be recognised, so a priority for me as vice chair will be to highlight the challenges facing the publicly funded family Bar.
‘Another core focus is to continue promoting equality, diversity and inclusion at the Bar.’
Mills will join the officer team from 1 January 2024. Current vice chair Sam Townend KC of Keating Chambers will become chair of the Bar for 2024, and Lorinda Long will continue as treasurer.
