Women Barristers- Justice in Limbo 1

The classical symbol of justice is a blindfolded woman holding a set of balancing scales in one hand and a double edged sword, representing both reason and justice, in the other. ‘Justice as fairness ’ (Rawls & Kelly 2001) entails a the promise that equal treatment will be given to all regardless of gender, race, identity, wealth, or any other attribute. For the legal system to deliver on this promise, both the processes of the law and the culture of the profession itself are expected to be exemplary reflections of justice. This article reports on a recent study, undertaken specifically to follow up on the findings of a report written by Rosemary Hunter and Helen McKelvie, which the Victorian Bar Council commissioned in 1998. Victoria University researchers undertook this study, called Working Life at the Bar, in 2009. They used a survey of barristers and ex-barristers in Victoria to collect the experiences of both women and men at the Bar, in part to explore the reasons why many had decided to leave the profession. The research involved semi-structured interviews with a cross section of practicing and non-practicing barristers. As well as drawing out a range of themes, the study provided a unique opportunity to consider how individual