“The theme of this year’s UN International Women’s Day is ‘Invest in women: Accelerate progress’. This is a timely moment to announce publicly the establishment of Women at the bar – an independent association for women who are practising members of the Faculty of Advocates or devils,” said Shelagh McCall KC, co-chair of the new association.

“While the number of women in practice at the bar is at a record high – around 28 per cent of members – it is relatively static. For many years, the majority of law graduates have been women, but this is not reflected in the numbers of women wanting to become advocates.

“Women are under-represented at the top end of the bar in the most important cases and prominent senior roles within Faculty. There has never been a female Dean of Faculty.

“Women are also under-represented in the senior judiciary and on the shrieval bench. There appears to be a significant attrition rate of women advocates, particularly from the criminal bar.”

Fellow co-chair advocate Nicola Gilchrist said Women at the bar had four main areas of focus.

She said: “It will promote the interests of women advocates and devils and advocate for equality and a respectful culture for women within the Faculty of Advocates. It will help facilitate the progression of women advocates’ careers and it will liaise with the Faculty and external bodies to protect and advance the interests of women advocates and devils.”

“In the next few months, we are organising a conference for our members, making contact with sister organisations in the other jurisdictions of the United Kingdom to help exchange ideas and learn from each other, developing proposals to encourage law students to think about a career at the bar, and much more.”

Ms McCall added: “Women at the bar was launched during the second half of 2023 and the majority of eligible women have already become members.

“Together we look forward to helping create an environment within the Faculty of Advocates in line with the aim of IWD 2024 – one where we invest in women and accelerate their progress.”