The Bar Council has today (16 April) officially launched the Bar Nursery at Smithfield House, in a bid to support working parents and boost diversity in the profession.

The nursery is the result of a campaign led by the Bar Nursery Association, which was established in 2007, to promote a more family-friendly environment at the Bar.

The nursery at Smithfield House, near the Inns of Court, will be available to children aged between eight weeks and five years, and will be open from 7am to 7pm, five days a week. Special rates will be available for all members of the Bar, as well as chambers staff and Bar Council employees.

Maura McGowan QC (pictured), chairman of the Bar, said: "It is important that members of the profession are not discouraged from starting a family because of their work, which could have a detrimental effect particularly on the number of women choosing a career at the Bar, and could see talented practitioners leaving the self-employed Bar for a more stable working life in employed practice, or even another profession."

McGowan added that further nurseries may be set up outside of London, depending on local demand.

In last year's Bar Standards Board and Bar Council survey, 'Barristers' Working Lives', two thirds of respondents admitted to finding it difficult to work part-time as a barrister. Former Bar council chairman Michael Todd was also a vocal supporter of the nursery plans, stressing that more work needed to be done to support working parents.