Academics at Nottingham Trent and De Montfort universities also found that lawyers from beyond the home counties faced obstacles to progressing in their careers due to their accents.

Researchers played recordings of a closing speech by the defence in a trial, delivered in received pronunciation (RP) as well as seven other accents. Of the 99 survey respondents, more than 80 per cent said they would be “comfortable” or “very comfortable” being represented by advocates with RP or southeastern accents.

But fewer than 20 per cent of them said they would be happy to be represented by a barrister with a southwestern or West Midlands accent – with most saying they would feel “uncomfortable” or “very uncomfortable”.

The West Midlands accent scored the lowest for intelligence, professionalism, clarity and trustworthiness. In contrast RP scored the highest for each of these.

One barrister said they had had to return to the north of England due to accent discrimination at the London bar.

One pupil barrister was convinced they were denied a pupillage simply because of their accent.

Researchers concluded that some accents, including those found in Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool, were perceived to be unacceptable in court.

Jeremy Robson, a barrister and law professor at De Montfort University, said: “If the bar, and therefore the judiciary, are going to be representative of all of society, this issue will need examining further and addressing.”