Parenting at the Bar

Baby at the Bar: Navigating life at the Bar after becoming a parent', written by Emma-Louise Fenelon and Emma Price, will be published by Bloomsbury Professional on 26th February 2026. (https://www.bloomsburyprofessional.com/uk/baby-at-the-bar-9781526535320/)

 

The book is based not only on the authors' own experience but also the experience of over 250 barristers from across the self-employed Bar who responded to their research survey. It addresses the challenges for those at the self-employed Bar with parenting responsibilities and sets out the range of strategies which barristers have employed to make it work. In addition to being a source of reassurance and guidance for those embarking upon the parenting journey, or already on it, the book highlights how the profession could help.

 

The book is supported by the Inns of Court Alliance for Women. Many of the challenges addressed in the book affect all parents at the self-employed Bar, regardless of gender. This is not solely a woman’s issue. However, the issues raised in the book disproportionately affect women at the Bar because a greater proportion of female barristers are primary carers for children than male barristers. Women are leaving practice prematurely in greater numbers than men and BSB research suggests that the dominant cause for the higher attrition rate for female barristers is that practice is difficult to combine with primary caring responsibilities for children. As such, the book is of clear relevance to the problem the self-employed Bar continues to have with the retention and progression of women.

 

The book can be pre-ordered here: https://www.bloomsburyprofessional.com/uk/baby-at-the-bar-9781526535320/). 

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