Poetry Corner

Elizabeth Cruickshank 1944 - 2023

Tributes

Dame Fiona Woolf, former Law Society President

Unwelcome Imposter

We all loved Elizabeth Cruickshank in the Association of Women Solicitors (as it then was). She had a quiet but very appealing integrity that would always find us the right thing to do as we emerged into a much-needed diversity and inclusion spotlight. She made us focus on the proud history of women in the law and also our international place, doing something that gave us great credibility – carrying out research and writing books and papers. She made friendships easily and her influence will have spread far and wide. For me, she provided a wonderful role model as I prepared to be Lord Mayor of London in 2013/14.

Lubna Shuja, Law Society President

I am sad to hear of the passing of Elizabeth Cruickshank. My thoughts go out to her family and friends at this time.

Elizabeth was a pivotal voice in writing about the lives and experiences of women solicitors. Her books Women in the Law and Sisters in Law focused on the outstanding contributions women solicitors, barristers and judges have made to our profession. We all stand on their shoulders, and Elizabeth made sure they were not forgotten.

I had the pleasure of meeting Elizabeth at our 100 Years of Women in Law celebrations last December. She had an impact on me as she was an inspirational contributor to the Law Society’s campaign. Her legacy is that the contributions she made will continue to serve as an inspiration for the next 100 years of women in law.”

Karen Aldred, former chair, Association of Women Solicitors

There are four things I remember most about Elizabeth. First her passion and interest in finding out more about those women within the profession who led before us, her softly spoken calm and supportive way of dealing with things, her ability to turn my ideas into perfect prose for monthly newsletters and finally, although never speaking ill of anyone her killer accurate assessments of people and situations.

Eduardo Reyes, commissioning and features editor, the Law Society Gazette

By Serena Reynell

I was trained in history, rather than law, and as a commissioning editor, at times I judge lawyers’ attempts at writing history harshly. But Elizabeth’s work on the early women lawyers met an exceptional standard. She was a fine writer, and the work she did was the foundation for the scholarship in this area that has grown exponentially. Every historical fact or argument she committed to bore scrutiny, and she continued to contribute new material.

She was lovely to deal with as a contributor to the Gazette, but also generous with her time, knowledge and sources when I asked for assistance with my own research projects. We last spoke by phone – about an article she wanted to start researching on the fathers of early women solicitors. I’m sorry we will not now receive and publish that. I know it would have been full of facts and insights new to me and our readers. ■

Thanks to Eduardo Reyes, the Law Society Gazette for collation