Celebrating 75 years of women King’s Counsel
Diversity InformationLady Chief JusticeLady Chief JusticeNews
On 30 September, over 350 women King’s Counsel (KC) and judges joined in celebrations at the Royal Courts of Justice to mark 75 years since Helena Normanton and Rose Heilbron became the first women to ‘take silk’ and become King’s Counsel – an award for excellence in advocacy in the higher courts. Since 1949, there have been over 640 women KCs appointed.
The event was organised by Mrs Justice McGowan, Mrs Justice Theis and Mrs Justice Morgan, with support and contributions from Spark21, the Inns of Court (Lincoln’s Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple and Gray’s Inn), Combar, TECBAR, the Professional Negligence Bar Association, the Chancery Bar Association, the London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association, and the Family Law Bar Association.
Baroness Carr, the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, addressed those in attendance: “Women are generally well represented in the legal professions although we still see fewer women in the top positions… Progress has been made but the path is much harder for some and we must, as we do tonight, celebrate success – that’s you, all of you here tonight – you are all magnificent and an extraordinary inspiration to the profession and to young aspiring lawyers everywhere.”
She continued: “As a member of the Judicial Diversity Forum, I work with the Lord Chancellor, and leaders of the Judicial Appointments Commission, Legal Services Board, CILEx, Law Society and Bar Council in coordinating efforts to ensure the judiciary is an inclusive and welcoming place to work for judges, or prospective judges – the pipeline of great talent is so important to this work and must be recognised tonight.”
Read her full speech below.