Women in law in the United Kingdom

Prior to the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919, women were not permitted to practice law in the United Kingdom.

[3] Since 2014, a number of large corporate firms of solicitors have set gender diversity targets to increase the percentage of women within their partnerships.

In 1889, Letitia Alice Walkington became the first woman to graduate with a degree of Bachelor of Laws in Great Britain or Ireland.

[1] The plaintiff in that case was Gwyneth Bebb, who was expected to be the first female to be called to the bar but died before that could happen.

[14]Thus, in 1922, Ivy Williams was the first woman called to the bar (although she never practiced),[15][16][17][18] and Helena Normanton became the first practising female barrister in the UK.

[22] Williams was also the first woman to teach law at an English university,[15] In 2022, Jessikah Inaba became the first Black visually-impaired (female) barrister in the United Kingdom.

[26][27][28] In 2006, Eleanor Sharpston became the first female from UK appointed as an Advocate General of the European Court of Justice.

[29] Helena Normanton and Rose Heilbron became the first two female barristers in England and Wales to be appointed King's Counsel in 1949.