7 minute read
Reflections
Reflections
I’m delighted to see the breadth of issues we covered in previous editions and the continued relevance of so many. The original concept for the magazine was a two-year project to capture the activity around the centenary of women qualifying in the law to ensure there was a clear record. We certainly achieved that.
Celebrating the centenary was particularly special. I’m delighted that the articles of Katie Broomfield and Elizabeth Cruickshank will be there for posterity. Both of them traced the history and highlighted extraordinary changes which took place in a period of 100 years. Katie discussed the barristers called to the Bar explaining that
“The Sex Disqualification Removal Act applied throughout England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The first woman to qualify as a lawyer following the Act was Madge Easton Anderson, who in 1920 was admitted as a law agent in Scotland. In 1936 she sat The Law Society’s final examination and was subsequently admitted as solicitor in England and Wales. The first women barristers anywhere in Great Britain and Ireland were Frances Kyle and Averil Deverell, who were called to the Bar of Ireland on 1 November 1921. Later that month Kyle was also called to the Bar of Northern Ireland. Ivy Williams was the first woman called to the Bar of England and Wales in May 1922. The first woman called to the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland was Margaret Kidd, in July 1923. Revealing the obstacles women faced, Kidd remained the only woman advocate in Scotland for 25 years. She was the first woman in the UK to be appointed King’s Counsel in 1948.”
You can read the whole article here https:// issuu.com/benham/docs/legal_women_ november_2022/8
Elizabeth looked at the solicitors who qualified, including the context of the Second World War, adaptions in training, the motivation, challenges and benefits. She highlighted that the lack of men able to work meant there was enormous pressure on many women to support themselves and families.
There were of course benefits for women which Elizabeth explained: “being able to rely on her own earning power meant that a woman did not have to depend on a husband and 40% of the women who qualified during this period did not marry. The death toll of the First World War undoubtedly removed the potential opportunity to marry for many women – in 1921 there were 1,720,806 more women than men in the population.”
High Profile Appointments
During the time we’ve been publishing we’ve seen appointments of women at the very highest levels of the legal profession.
Susanna McGibbon was appointed in March 2021 as Treasury Solicitor, HM Procurator General and Permanent Secretary to the Government Legal Department (GDL). She kindly provided an excellent review on her career to date which you can read here Susanna McGibbon
She emphasized the importance of flexible working practices and that the GDL has supported staff from long before the pandemic with a wide range of patterns of work. This is critical for everyone in order to share family commitments as she explained: “Importantly, flexible working is not just a “female” thing in GLD, many male colleagues work flexibly too and our parents’ network has just as many active men as well as women providing support and advice to colleagues juggling work and family life.”
A few months later in September 2021, Dame Siobhan Keegan was appointed to the highest judicial post in Northern Ireland as Lady Chief Justice. I was delighted to interview her and host a Legal Women event with her giving the keynote speech. The interview can be read here https://issuu.com/benham/docs/legal_ women_february_2022/20
In the interview she emphasized the importance of mentoring in moving the profession closer to gender parity:
“I had one professional woman in my family, my aunt who was a teacher and became the school principal. I do not think I realised at the time, but I think that did inspire me to think ‘I can do this’. I do not underestimate the power of home mentors, those below the radar, not titled but in their quiet way, they did as much for me as the superstars in the legal world.”
In 2023, Baroness Carr was appointed as Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, the first female appointment since the creation of the role some 800 years ago.
As well as highlighting the magnificent achievements of these high-profile women, we were keen to champion the careers of those that choose a different path. You can find articles of junior lawyers setting out on the earliest years of the profession, those who have used their legal skills for associated work or those who have completely changed track and set up businesses or pursued other paths.
Visibility
We also talked to the Law Societies of the four nations about the importance of visibility of women within the building. This can be critical to creating a sense of belonging. Ensuring this change has been a subject of campaigns for some years, as it is often seen as merely a decor issue, but it is so much more to the individuals. We were delighted that I Stephanie Boyce has been honoured with a portrait and certainly hope to see our first Asian President, Lubna Shuja, honoured in the same way.
International Women’s Day is always an opportunity to increase the visibility of female lawyers and we've enjoyed events and campaigns each year -online discussions and round table discussions as well as in person events. In 2024 alone hearing from the then Shadow Attorney General, Emily Thornberry MP (and barrister!) in London. LCJ Keegan in Northern Ireland and Lady Dorian in Scotland.
We are incredibly grateful for the exceptional support from The Law Society of Scotland and The Law Society of Northern Ireland, ably negotiated for us by our wonderful editorial board members from those jurisdictions, Alison Atack and Karen O'Leary respectively.
Emily Thornberry IWD event in London
During the time we’ve been publishing we’ve seen appointments of women at the very highest levels of the legal profession.
We also made connections outside the UK, partnering with Kamila Kurkowska, Women in Law Foundation in Poland, interviewing the President of the International Bar Association – only the second female President so far. We heard from lawyers in Pakistan about gendersensitive courts and the empowering work of Dastak, a legal access to justice centre for women and children; as well as featuring the first female Supreme Court Justice, Ayesha Malik, in our Spring edition this year.
Embracing the Future
This was one of our favourite covers and sums up how we feel about the future of Legal Women. We look forward to meeting more of our subscribers by holding more events, both online and in person. To increase our digital presence we will continue publishing on our website and create consistent social media. As always if you have ideas, please let us know. ■
