Top female judge calls for end to 'frenetic' working hours for women so they can spend more time with their families



Lady Justice Hallett said the 'frenetic' working environment needs to change

Added that it is usually women who take control of caring duties



She wants society's priorities to change and for work not to encroach upon quality of life

Speaking out: Lady Justice Heather Hallett said that the pace of working life needed to change to help women

A senior woman judge has called for an end to the ‘frenetic’ working environment as she fears it holds women back.

Lady Justice Hallett, who is in the running to become the next Lord Chief Justice, said that society’s priorities need to change.

She said that we need to look at peoples quality of life, adding: 'I want to see a time when the Prime Minister is criticised for not spending time with his family on a Sunday.’

The mother-of-two said that women were put off becoming judges or senior partners in law firms as the hours are not conducive to a family life, reported The Times.

She believes that there needs to be a change of culture, and that politicians should not just talk about changing working hours for women to be equal in the workplace.

She said at a question-and-answer session held at the London School of Economics: ‘Even if you have a very modern partner, the chances are the burden of caring responsibilities – be it children when you are relatively young, or aging relatives when older – [will fall on the woman].’

Lady Justice Hallett is also deputy president of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court and has put her name forward for the lord Chief Justice role.

She couldn’t deny that she wanted the job, adding that she thought: ‘It is probably one of the best jobs in the world.’

The position becomes available when Lord Judge steps down at the end of September. Lord Justice Leveson and Sir John Thomas who is currently president of the Queen’s Bench.

Lady Justice Hallett believes that politicians need to do more to introduce a more flexible working week and help those who have caring duties

Lady Justice Hallett is deputy president of the Queen's Bench Division which is housed in the High Court

Lady Justice Hallett was widely praised for the way she handled the inquests in toe 7/7 bombings.

She has always been interested in diversity, and has spoken out in the past about being propositioned by senior colleagues and sexism in the workplace.