The chambers of the 17,000 or so practising barristers in England and Wales face, arguably, their greatest time of challenge and controversy since advocates first took up arms in the early 13th century.

As we go back to work, we will not – and should not – forget the lessons we learnt during lockdown. I really hope that we drive change as a result and create a positive legacy for our industry.

Until under-represented groups reach a critical mass (of 30%) in partnerships, boards and chambers, problems of sexism and exclusionary working practices in the legal profession will not be eradicated.

During times of business stress, marketing budgets are usually among the first cut because they are often viewed as non-essential. But spending on marketing is vital for steadying the ship when the storm passes.

This year has been a challenging one in many respects for women in the legal profession. Instead of celebrating the anniversary of the Equal Pay Act, enforcement of gender pay gap reporting was suspended.