As legal practitioners we are all responsible for doing what we can to promote and achieve equitable practices. One of the areas that requires greater commitment from all firms and our clients is the advancement and retention of female counsel.

The Lifting the Bar series provides a platform where we can get to know leading female junior and senior counsel across different areas of practice, with a particular focus on the NSW Government sector.

In our previous editions, we profiled female junior counsel in disputes and inquiries, employment and safety, planning & environment and disputes and inquiries.

For our final edition of 2020, we have profiled six leading female senior counsel in NSW. You would no doubt be aware that in NSW, Attorney-General approval is required for briefing senior counsel for government matters and it is a requirement that at least one female is on the list or an explanation must be provided as to why one has not been included.

Use this publication when it is time to prepare a shortlist of female junior and senior counsel for a matter, or when you are providing instructions on who to brief. You will be able to consider and include at least one of these featured female counsel – so keep this handy!

We hope you enjoy this edition of Lifting the Bar.