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Recognising Underrepresented Lawyers UK: The Women+ in Law Leadership Index
The Women+ in Law Leadership Index is a Global Counsel Forum initiative. It highlights the amazing women and gender-diverse legal professionals who are shaping the future of law across the United Kingdom. Visibility matters more than ever right now. This Index exists to celebrate, record and amplify the achievements of underrepresented lawyers UK-wide who are leading the way — in private practice, in-house, at the Bar and beyond.
Why an Index Like This Matters
Despite decades of progress, women and gender-diverse professionals remain underrepresented in senior legal roles across the UK. This is especially true for those from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds. Leadership positions at law firms, the judiciary, general counsel offices and chambers still show deep structural gaps. The Women+ in Law Leadership Index is one practical step toward changing that. It makes excellence visible and creates a public record of who is already leading the way.
Who the Index Celebrates
The Index recognises women and gender-diverse underrepresented lawyers UK-wide. It covers a range of practice areas and career stages, including:
- Senior associates, partners and managing partners in private practice
- In-house counsel and general counsel at major organisations
- Barristers and Kings Counsel
- Senior associates, partners and managing partners in private practice
- In-house counsel and general counsel at major organisations
- Barristers and Kings Counsel at the Bar
- Legal executives, compliance professionals and legal operations leaders
- Trainees and junior lawyers demonstrating early leadership
- Those working at the intersection of law, policy and social change
Part of the Global Counsel Forum Community
The Women+ in Law Leadership Index sits within the broader Global Counsel Forum ecosystem — the leading community infrastructure for Black and underrepresented legal professionals across the UK and Europe. GCF exists year-round to support career development, professional visibility, networking and community for those who have historically had fewer platforms to be seen and heard. The Index is one expression of that mission: creating lasting, searchable recognition that goes beyond a single evening award.
How the Index Works
Nominations are gathered through an open community process, with entries reviewed by the GCF team and a panel of senior legal professionals. The Index is updated on an ongoing basis and published openly so that recruiters, sponsors, media and peers can discover the talent that already exists across the legal profession. If you know someone — or are someone — who belongs here, we want to hear from you.
Get Involved
Whether you are an underrepresented lawyer UK-based looking to be recognised, a law firm wanting to nominate a colleague, or an organisation interested in supporting the Index as a partner, Global Counsel Forum welcomes your involvement.
Submit a nomination, join the GCF community or enquire about partnership opportunities today. Together, we make the legal profession’s leadership look like the world it serves.