Women in Law and International Women’s Day
December 2022 marked 100 years from the time when the first woman was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales.
The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act permitted women to be able to work in the Civil Service and the judicial system. Prior, women were not allowed to join the legal profession as they were not recognised as ‘persons’ under the Solicitors Act 1843.
Following on from the Representation of the People Act 1918, which gave some women the right to vote, the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 made it easier for women to become lawyers, and in December 1922, Carrie Morrison was the first woman to qualify as a solicitor, with others also being admitted.
Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once said “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”
For women all over the globe, March 8th is a time to reflect on our past struggles and make stronger our shared voice. This year, the theme for the UN International Women’s Day is ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.
