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Emma Cross and Sunyana Sharma share advice from a recent judicial careers event and other aspiration-raising initiatives on the Western Circuit
The Western Circuit Women’s Forum (WCWF) was the first women’s forum of its kind when it was established a decade ago and many other women’s forums across the country have since been set up. Another big first for women in law – since the 13th century, no less – was the appointment of the first ever Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Sue Carr, in 2023. The WCWF was delighted to welcome the Lady Chief Justice to its ‘Ask a Judge’ panel event in May 2024. This, our second event focusing on careers in the judiciary, was held at Winchester Combined Court and chaired by Her Honour Judge Morris, the Recorder of Winchester.
As with the WCWF’s first ‘Ask a Judge’ event, the entire panel was made up of an impressive array of women judges alongside the Lady Chief Justice and HHJ Morris: Mrs Justice Judd; District Judge Goodall; Assistant Coroner and Deputy District Judge (Civil and Family) Sunyana Sharma; Recorder, Mental Health Tribunal and Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Court) Gemma White, and Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Court) Berenice Mulvanny.
The panel discussion centred around the route to becoming a judge, work-life balance, application tips, sitting in different areas of law, balancing part-time judicial roles with practice – factoring in caring responsibilities – and being open about the fact that you are applying (and when it has not gone well – not everyone succeeds first time around). The answers and insights provided by the judicial panellists were frank and full of encouragement, especially for those who have not applied to be a judge before.
The event was a huge success with over 50 barristers and solicitors in attendance and all enjoying the opportunity to meet with the Lady Chief Justice. Some top tips given by the panel on the night are shown in the box, below.
Events like ‘Ask a Judge’ are hugely important for improving diversity at the Bar and within the judiciary. It is a cause and passion the WCWF shares with another fantastic group on the Western Circuit and first of its kind, BarNone. BarNone was set up in 2020 to encourage applications from those educated at state school and from Black, minority and ethnic groups, both at the Bar and for judicial applications.
Over the years, BarNone has created a mentoring programme for students wishing to become barristers and an outreach programme in state schools across Cornwall to Winchester to educate students on life as a barrister. Along with offering talks in schools and universities, BarNone recently set up a judge marshalling experience for students to visit Winchester Crown Court.
On the Western Circuit, we are acutely aware that diversity is lacking among our judiciary. At the ‘Ask a judge’ event, Sunyana Sharma, one of BarNone’s officers, described her experience of being one of the first Asian and female criminal barristers ‘knocking about’ the criminal and civil courts in Hampshire and Dorset almost 15 years ago, and how she routinely felt different and at times out of place. It was never her intention to take on a judicial role, but with encouragement from colleagues and clerks and support from friends, Sunyana realised that to diversify the Bar she had to be part of the change that she wanted to see.
Finally, a word from Jo Martin KC, Leader of the Western Circuit:
‘When Kate Brunner KC and I discussed the creation of the WCWF over a pleasant dinner in Cornwall, it was because we felt, as senior women at the Bar on Circuit, that there were not only not enough senior women at the Bar, but there were also not enough women judges. Who could young women joining the profession see as a role model? Who could they ask how to, and whether it was possible, to get on in their careers?
‘Moving on some years – to the WCWF’s second Ask a Judge event – I was bitterly disappointed not to be able to make it to Winchester in person, but I felt an enormous sense of pride to see so many extraordinary professional women gathered together – either in the room or online. I was delighted to know that our male colleagues also attended the event.
‘The normality of women doing well, at every level, from successful barrister, through all echelons of judicial careers right up to LCJ, is what everyone should aspire to. And I feel like we are getting there. There is still work to be done but there is tangible progress.’
Pictured above (left to right): The judicial panel at WCWF’s ‘Ask a Judge’ event on 21 May 2024 - Assistant Coroner and Deputy District judge (Civil and Family) Sunyana Sharma; Recorder, Mental Health Tribunal and Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Court) Gemma White; the Recorder of Winchester, Her Honour Judge Morris; the Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Sue Carr; High Court judge, Mrs Justice Judd; District Judge Goodall; and Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Court) Berenice Mulvanny.
See also:
‘Become a judge’, Brie Stevens-Hoare KC, Counsel October 2024.
‘Judicial pathways for the employed Bar’, Venetia Jackson, Counsel October 2023.
Emma Cross is Chair of the Western Circuit Women’s Forum and a barrister at Magdalen Chambers specialising in public and private law children cases.
Sunyana Sharma is an inquest and professional discipline barrister at 3PB Barristers. She is a member of the steering group for BarNone and sits as an Assistant Coroner in Hampshire and as a DDJ in civil and family.
The Western Circuit Women’s Forum (WCWF) was the first women’s forum of its kind when it was established a decade ago and many other women’s forums across the country have since been set up. Another big first for women in law – since the 13th century, no less – was the appointment of the first ever Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Sue Carr, in 2023. The WCWF was delighted to welcome the Lady Chief Justice to its ‘Ask a Judge’ panel event in May 2024. This, our second event focusing on careers in the judiciary, was held at Winchester Combined Court and chaired by Her Honour Judge Morris, the Recorder of Winchester.
As with the WCWF’s first ‘Ask a Judge’ event, the entire panel was made up of an impressive array of women judges alongside the Lady Chief Justice and HHJ Morris: Mrs Justice Judd; District Judge Goodall; Assistant Coroner and Deputy District Judge (Civil and Family) Sunyana Sharma; Recorder, Mental Health Tribunal and Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Court) Gemma White, and Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Court) Berenice Mulvanny.
The panel discussion centred around the route to becoming a judge, work-life balance, application tips, sitting in different areas of law, balancing part-time judicial roles with practice – factoring in caring responsibilities – and being open about the fact that you are applying (and when it has not gone well – not everyone succeeds first time around). The answers and insights provided by the judicial panellists were frank and full of encouragement, especially for those who have not applied to be a judge before.
The event was a huge success with over 50 barristers and solicitors in attendance and all enjoying the opportunity to meet with the Lady Chief Justice. Some top tips given by the panel on the night are shown in the box, below.
Events like ‘Ask a Judge’ are hugely important for improving diversity at the Bar and within the judiciary. It is a cause and passion the WCWF shares with another fantastic group on the Western Circuit and first of its kind, BarNone. BarNone was set up in 2020 to encourage applications from those educated at state school and from Black, minority and ethnic groups, both at the Bar and for judicial applications.
Over the years, BarNone has created a mentoring programme for students wishing to become barristers and an outreach programme in state schools across Cornwall to Winchester to educate students on life as a barrister. Along with offering talks in schools and universities, BarNone recently set up a judge marshalling experience for students to visit Winchester Crown Court.
On the Western Circuit, we are acutely aware that diversity is lacking among our judiciary. At the ‘Ask a judge’ event, Sunyana Sharma, one of BarNone’s officers, described her experience of being one of the first Asian and female criminal barristers ‘knocking about’ the criminal and civil courts in Hampshire and Dorset almost 15 years ago, and how she routinely felt different and at times out of place. It was never her intention to take on a judicial role, but with encouragement from colleagues and clerks and support from friends, Sunyana realised that to diversify the Bar she had to be part of the change that she wanted to see.
Finally, a word from Jo Martin KC, Leader of the Western Circuit:
‘When Kate Brunner KC and I discussed the creation of the WCWF over a pleasant dinner in Cornwall, it was because we felt, as senior women at the Bar on Circuit, that there were not only not enough senior women at the Bar, but there were also not enough women judges. Who could young women joining the profession see as a role model? Who could they ask how to, and whether it was possible, to get on in their careers?
‘Moving on some years – to the WCWF’s second Ask a Judge event – I was bitterly disappointed not to be able to make it to Winchester in person, but I felt an enormous sense of pride to see so many extraordinary professional women gathered together – either in the room or online. I was delighted to know that our male colleagues also attended the event.
‘The normality of women doing well, at every level, from successful barrister, through all echelons of judicial careers right up to LCJ, is what everyone should aspire to. And I feel like we are getting there. There is still work to be done but there is tangible progress.’
Pictured above (left to right): The judicial panel at WCWF’s ‘Ask a Judge’ event on 21 May 2024 - Assistant Coroner and Deputy District judge (Civil and Family) Sunyana Sharma; Recorder, Mental Health Tribunal and Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Court) Gemma White; the Recorder of Winchester, Her Honour Judge Morris; the Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Sue Carr; High Court judge, Mrs Justice Judd; District Judge Goodall; and Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Court) Berenice Mulvanny.
See also:
‘Become a judge’, Brie Stevens-Hoare KC, Counsel October 2024.
‘Judicial pathways for the employed Bar’, Venetia Jackson, Counsel October 2023.
Emma Cross and Sunyana Sharma share advice from a recent judicial careers event and other aspiration-raising initiatives on the Western Circuit
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