Empowering Women Barristers: Her Bar Conference May 2025

29th May 2025

3PB civil law and matrimonial finance barrister Rachel BaleRachel BaleCall: 2019 (pictured here), who co-founded the support network Her Bar with Nasreen Shah from Great James Street Chambers, hosted a landmark Her Bar conference last Saturday 17 May 2025 at The View in The Royal College of Surgeons of England in London which was organised specifically to assist women barristers, both practising and aspiring counsel.

The day welcomed over 100 attendees and featured a distinguished line-up of speakers, including Lady Justice Whipple, Mary Prior KC, Barbara Mills KC, Sultana Tafadar KC and Tribunal Judge Thaira Bibi among others. These leaders shared their insights on a wide range of issues affecting women at the Bar, including bullying and harassment, the gender pay gap and juggling motherhood with practice, providing invaluable perspectives and fostering an environment of learning and growth.

Attendees also had the opportunity to explore resources from our sponsors such as the personal development coach Catherine Brown from Skilful Conversation; wealth managers, Louise Crush from Westgate Wealth and Michelle Jerome and Andrew Christodoulou from Henry Dannell, who offered essential financial planning and mortgage guidance for busy barristers. Additionally, online clothing business Wherk provided a pop-up shop showcasing professional court wear, allowing participants to discover and try on stylish and practical attire options.

Behind the scenes, a dedicated team worked tirelessly to ensure the event's success. The overwhelming positive feedback from attendees underscores this conference's impact. As one participant noted, "An amazing day!" Another shared, "Loved this event! Truly an eye-opening experience and great for networking."

Her Bar extends heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to this successful event. The conference not only highlighted the challenges faced by women at the Bar but also celebrated their achievements and provides a platform and community for continued support and advancement. The conference was  meticulously designed to cater to every stage of a barrister’s career—whether you’re just starting out, building your practice, or aiming for higher judicial roles.

Contact Rachel on [email protected] for further information about Her Bar or click here to sign up for membership of the network. If you wish to contact her clerk, please email [email protected] or by calling him on 01865 793736.