More paid part-time judicial roles will be made available to allow for flexibility with family commitments and increase the number of women in the judiciary, according to new proposals laid out by Justice Secretary Ken Clarke.

The proposal is one of a number of measures outlined by Clarke today (21 November) to increase diversity within the judiciary in a bid to provide better access to judicial careers. If granted, the move would see an increase in the number of part-time judges in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Currently, flexible-working arrangements are rare and generally not seen above the level of district judge.

Other proposals up for consultation include allowing the Lord Chancellor, rather than the Prime Minister, to make recommendations on appointments directly to the Monarch and transferring the Lord Chancellor's powers for judicial appointments below either the High Court or Court of Appeal to the Lord Chief Justice.

Clarke is also considering limiting fee-paid judges to three five-year terms (currently they can work until they are 70 years old), reducing the number of Judicial Appointment Commissioners and restricting the Judicial Appointment Commissions' involvement in the selection of judicial office holders who do not require a legal qualification.

Clarke said: "The calibre of our judges should never be compromised – their role is too important. Candidates should always be assessed on merit. But swathes of talent are going untapped. Ability is not confined to certain narrow sections of society, in certain racial, social or other groups.

"It should no longer be the case that an able woman who seeks a post in the senior judiciary is at a disadvantage because she chose to pause her career to have a family."

In addition, the introduction of an independent lay person to chair the selection panels for both the roles of Lord Chief Justice and President of the UK Supreme Court is up for debate. Currently this role is carried out by a judge.

The proposals follow Master of the Rolls Lord Neuberger's comments last week that he would have no difficulty with using section 159 of the Equality Act to favour women and ethnic minorities over white males where two judicial candidates were otherwise equal.

Figures show that 13.7%, of senior judges are women, while 3.1% are from Black and Asian groups, compared with 51% and 12% respectively of the wider population.