Visibility at the Bar
Women made visible at the Bar 01
“One
of the most memorable days in the long relatable role-models are important to women in professions annals of the legal profession” was how Ivy where sex and gender may be seen as barriers to progression. In Williams’s call to the bar was reported exactly 100 years ago 2017, I curated a temporary exhibition, Celebrating a Centenary this month, on 10 May 1922. Williams was the first woman to of Women in Law, in Lincoln’s Inn’s Old Hall. For the first time, be called to the Bar of England and Wales and, in a speech women barristers, including Mercy Ashworth and Mithan Tata, marking the occasion, she recalled that “It had been the the first women to be called by Lincoln’s Inn’s, were represented dream of her life … that she should become a barrister.” against the backdrop of existing male portraits. There is now a Having already embarked upon a career as an academic, conference suite, at Lincoln’s Inn, named the Ashworth Centre Williams did not intend to practise at the Bar. Instead, she and the unveiling of a major new piece of artwork, to coincide acknowledged “the women with the centenary of her call who would follow and who to the Bar, is planned for 2023. would practise at the Bar, Anniversaries have the power to inspire and she asked that every Other temporary exhibitions curiosity in a subject. What is needed help and encouragement included Celebrating a should be given them in the Century of Women in Law, is to ensure continued interest and difficulties they would have a photography exhibition permanent representation of women’s to face.” Her call was made curated by Rosalind current and historic position at the Bar. possible by the passing Wright and displayed in of the Sex Disqualification Middle Temple Hall and a (Removal) Act 1919, which photography exhibition, the removed all legal barriers to women working as lawyers. Justicia Project, held in the Bar Library, Belfast to celebrate the However, as Williams recognised, the Act was only the achievements of Northern Ireland’s women barristers and 100 beginning of women’s struggle for equality within the legal years since Frances Kyle and Averil Deverell were the first women profession, which continues today. to be called to the Bar anywhere in Britain and Ireland. As the Bar of Northern Ireland explain: “We want to inspire young women As reported in Legal Women last year, (Issue 4, September to choose and persevere with a career in the law. You cannot 2021, pp.38-40), there are important questions over women’s be what you cannot see! And the more opportunities we create participation, retention and progression within the profession. for young women to see female leaders in their profession, the The way in which women are represented within their places of more they should feel empowered to take up and continue with work impacts on these issues because, research has shown, a career in law.” Anniversaries have the power to inspire curiosity 14 | LegalWomen
