It was founded by Katy Thorne QC following concerns that too few women reached top appointments in law.

WICL was set up by Katy Thorne QC, following concerns that too few women reached top appointments in criminal law.

Heather Hallett, then Vice-President of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division, is the patron.

[3][4][5] Mrs Justice Bobbie Cheema-Grubb joined because "excellent, experienced lawyers are leaving the profession".

[1] The organisation set up mentoring schemes, where small groups of women are connected with a female judge.