The Holy of Holies

Drop in to any law school in the country and you will find a roughly even balance of men and women. Equally, among the country's law firms, and even at the very best of them, the gender balance is roughly even at the starting blocks.

But, move up through the ranks to the level of partnership - the folks who run the show - and the picture looks very different. The partners in a big law firm in the City of London are still  - for whatever reason - white, male, middle-aged and educated at public schools.

Just like the author of Queen's Counsel, in fact.