«Breaking News» London female barrister Joanna Hardy Twitter thread on male colleagues joke about breasts

A female barrister has advised her male colleagues 'not to behave like they're on a stag do' or 'joke about breasts and skirts' in court.

Joanna Hardy is a leading criminal barrister working in London and has given evidence to Government committees on how to improve the legal profession.

Yesterday she took to Twitter to discuss ways to help prevent women from leaving criminal law for other jobs.

The lengthy feed slammed her male counterparts for saying things like 'you're worse than my wife' and demanding female colleagues 'make the case dinner', 'fetch the coffee' and 'pour the water'.

She also claimed they often 'behave like they're on a stag do' while hearing cases, make lewd, sexist jokes and 'forget women's names'. 

Joanna Hardy (pictured giving evidence to a House of Commons justice committee) is a leading criminal barrister working in London and has given evidence to Government committees on how to improve the legal profession 

 Yesterday Ms Hardy (pictured) took to Twitter to discuss ways to help prevent women from leaving criminal law for other jobs

Three of the points in her nine-strong list read: 'Don't behave like you're on a stag-do. 

'If you're a male in a male-heavy case, don't ask the female counsel to fetch the coffee / pour your water. 

'Try to remember their names. Don't make repetitive jokes about breasts or skirts. 

'Don't communicate solely in innuendo. 

Joanna Hardy's Twitter feed on women in law 

 We talk a lot about retention of women at the criminal bar. We wring our hands and shake our heads as females leave and leave and leave. But what can we actually do? A wee thread:

1) Abolish 09:30 listings. This helps with childcare and the care of elderly relatives. It's (something) predictable in a chaotic job. (This helps male primary caregivers, too).

2) Abolish warned lists. No other profession prepares a piece of work (for free) on the off-chance they might be able to complete it and be paid. Let's fix trials. That requires funding judicial sitting hours and recorders. It requires the utilisation of empty courtrooms.

3) Be kind to each other. Female advocates can have a rough time of it. Not all the time. And they aren't the only ones. But just don't do it. And if you see it, don't tolerate it.

4) Think about your chambers' policies for supporting female members. Do you have a mentoring scheme? A maternity policy? Support for returning to work? Fair allocation of cases? If you don't - write one. 

5) Help each other. If you're a senior female member of the bar or female judge - encourage those behind you. Talk about how you managed families / relatives / stress / career breaks / bravado at the bar. Lend a hand. Or an ear. Speak on a panel. Write an article. Mentor. Help. 

6) Don't behave like you're on a stag-do. If you're a male in a male-heavy case, don't ask the female counsel to fetch the coffee / pour your water. Try to remember their names. Don't make repetitive jokes about breasts or skirts. Don't communicate solely in innuendo.

7) 'You're worse than my wife' is not an acceptable way to conclude a debate about complex legal provisions.

8) No. I don't want to organise the case dinner. 

9) Don't read Monday Messages from @TheCriminalBar or emails from @WellbeingCBA or books by @BarristerSecret and nod along without engaging. Do some small things to help. 

Source: @Joanna__Hardy 

'You're worse than my wife' is not an acceptable way to conclude a debate about complex legal provisions. 

'No. I don't want to organise the case dinner.' 

Ms Hardy, who has appeared in the top Legal 500 list of leading junior criminal barristers, has been flooded with positive responses - many from senior male colleagues. 

Mark George QC wrote: 'Well said Joanna. Much needs to change in our courts if the issue of retention is to be taken as seriously as it should be.'

Michael Auty posted: 'These are some very sensible and practical suggestions. Since 1994, 16 of the 30 tenants we’ve taken on are women. 

'The 6 most junior tenants are women and they are all superb. They are all a vital part of the family. I am presently co-defending with a brilliant female silk!'

Her call for change comes after several complaints about the lack of gender and racial diversity in the legal profession up and down Britain.

It also follows an article written by chairman Chris Henley QC for the Criminal Bar Association on Monday entitled 'The Problem With Being A Woman At The Criminal Bar'. 

In it he admitted several female lawyers and those belonging to ethnic minority groups are 'suffering physically, mentally and financially'.

He wrote: 'There is too much talk about diversity (I’m getting rather irritated by it), but nothing discernible is yet happening.  It is patently not being taken sufficiently seriously.' 

Ms Hardy's Twitter post also suggested abandoning early hearings so mothers and co-parenting fathers can manage their childcare responsibilities better.

She warned legal staff to be 'kind to each other', confessing 'female advocates have a rough time of it'. 

The young lawyer currently works for Red Lion Chambers in London, which used to be run by Max Hill QC, before he became Director of Public Prosecutions.

Her professional profile describes her as a 'able and popular jury advocate with experience across the full spectrum of criminal allegations', as well as an 'efficient, diligent junior'.

She has led several murder cases and others in historical sexual offending, as well as appearing in front of the Lord Chief Justice and cases in the Court of Appeal.

She was one of three lawyers to be chosen to represent the legal profession in front of the Commons Justice Select Committee to give her view on the disclosure of evidence during criminal trials. 

She graduated from King's College London with a first class law degree before starting her career.  

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Main photo article A female barrister has advised her male colleagues ‘not to behave like they’re on a stag do’ or ‘joke about breasts and skirts’ in court.
Joanna Hardy is a leading criminal barrister working in London and has given evidence to Government committees on how to improve...

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