I am a barrister and I don’t socialise with other barristers. Nothing odd about that at all. But the fact that you directly link the non-socialising to a lack of advancement is a problem with the profession not Proudman. She’s done a huge amount in the profession already without being a KC or a Judge, and seemingly without socialising with other barristers.

Becoming a KC and moving up with a career at the Bar involves recommendations from other judges. If she publicly criticises the judiciary, why would a judge want to recommend her as a future KC?

I don’t see this as a ‘win’ at all if she potentially struggles to move up at the Bar and claims she has few friends in the profession too.

When female KCs and judges exist, it’s not because a ‘boys club’ has stopped them.