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by Jo Delahunty (Author)
The Bar has a long-standing reputation for being the preserve of public-school educated, white men. Power and privilege can create abuses of power, from discrimination and disadvantage in entering the profession, to toxic work practices, sexual harassment, judicial bullying and more.
In her trademark outspoken style, Jo Delahunty K.C. reveals what life at the legal aid Bar involves and identifies what can be done to change its culture and image for the better, reshaping the traditional image of a barrister in terms of the diverse profession it should be.
By celebrating the highs, but not concealing the lows, of a life in law, Jo's love letter to her profession 'sets the bar' for action: what we can learn from the past and what needs to be done in future to galvanise it into a united, egalitarian, healthy environment for all.
Author Biography
Professor Jo Delahunty KC, Emeritus Gresham Professor of Law, is one of the UK's leading barristers, specialising in child protection law who, over her 40 years at the Bar, has chosen to champion the vulnerable, using her status and public platforms to speak out about wrongs in her working world. Being the child of a single parent from a working-class family and the first to go to university, she has defied the script for class and gender to challenge inequality and injustice, through her actions, achievements and public speaking. By writing about the realities of a life in law, confronting issues such as sexual harassment, bullying and lack of diversity she Sets The Bar for others to follow. In 2025, she was the winner of The Lawyer You Aspire to Be 2025 from the Legal Style Awards and the prestigious Family Law Silk of the Year and DEI: Outstanding Contribution for the Chambers UK Bar Awards https: //chambers.com/events/chambers-uk-bar-awards-2025
