As legal practitioners we are all responsible for doing what we can to promote and achieve equitable practices. The lack of knowledge of, or connection with, female junior counsel is a barrier to equitable briefing practices.

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

In our first and second edition we profiled female junior counsel in disputes and inquiries and employment and safety.

For our third edition, we have focused on the area of planning and environmental law. This is a field in which women have played a leading role for many years, including as judges of the Land and Environment Court and as leading solicitors and barristers. There are many extremely capable female barristers. It is not possible to profile all of them, but we are pleased to profile seven female junior counsel in this edition.

Use this publication when it is time to prepare a shortlist of barristers in the area of planning and environment 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 barristers – so keep this handy!

We hope you enjoy the third edition of Lifting the Bar.