As a female, non-white, non-Oxbridge, state-school educated barrister, I am in the minority of those at the Bar in any number of ways. In fact, if I had a fiver for each time a client said to me "You don't look like a barrister", I could probably retire from practice altogether.

However, one thing I am most definitely – and unfashionably – is middle-class (my father is an engineer, my mother a solicitor). I, like my parents, have entered a very middle-class profession. The recently published report on fair access to the professions criticised the lack of social mobility in the UK, in particular the fact that "access to the professions is becoming the preserve of those from a smaller and smaller part of the social spectrum."

The figures are startling – and the Bar didn't come out of it well: 75% of judges and over 60% of barristers were educated at independent schools. By way of comparison, about 6%-7% of children are educated at independent schools.

The report makes great play of the part that aspiration plays in entry to the professions. And while this may be true, the fact remains that some major practical hurdles lay in wait for any young person from a lower socio-economic group seeking a career as a barrister. You can imagine the helpful careers advisor pointing out:

"Well, if you want to become a barrister you'll have to take a law degree at a respected university (with fees and top-up fees), then undertake the BVC at a cost of nearly £10,000, work for a year as a pupil probably on an income that is far below the cost of living in a major city. You'll also have to shell out £500 for an outfit last fashionable in the 17th century. Oh, and none of the work experience you'll need to do is paid"

Any budding hopes Kevin may have of cross-examining in Court One of the Old Bailey probably wither and die at this point.

Of course, there are some heavily ingrained attitudes and perceptions limiting access to the Bar that will take a long time to change. But I think there are some simple things that could be done immediately to improve things:

Pay travel expenses during mini-pupillages. For those outside London a daily journey in for a week (travelling at peak times) can be enormously expensive. It is simply not just that mini-pupils are left out of pocket in order to gain experience that chambers demand.

Ban nepotistic work experience. Young Tarquin may desperately want to be a barrister, but is it right that he walks into a mini-pupillage at a top set because daddy plays golf with one of the silks? Most chambers have a formal application procedure for mini-pupillages; that should apply to all.

Make all Inn scholarships means tested. The Inns of Court shell out hundreds of thousands of pounds in scholarships, but not all Inns examine whether or not a candidate actually needs the money. The result is there are some scholars with large family incomes who do not actually require the Inn's money to train at the Bar.

Get rid of all Inn scholarships linked to specific Oxbridge colleges. And put the money towards general scholarships instead.

Increase the minimum pupilage award. £833 per month is not a lot to live on, in particular in London.

While the above will not level the playing field, they might go some way to stopping the increase in gradient.

Ayeesha Bhutta is a barrister at Field Court Chambers

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