First 100 Years of Women in Law

Meet the amazing women who have made the legal profession their own

• The first book to tell the story for a general audience
• Published in partnership with the First 100 Years, the national campaign set up to celebrate the centenary of the 1919 Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act
• The story is brought to life with photographs, archive material, boxed-out features, anecdotes and quotations

When Helena Normanton was admitted to Middle Temple on 24 December 1919, she became the first woman to enter this traditional male preserve, setting in train a series of firsts for women in law which continue today. The day before, the passing of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act had made it possible, for the first time, for women to enter the legal profession.

Marking the centenary of the Act, Firsttells the story of women in law in their first 100 years of practice. From early campaigners through to the first women solicitors, barristers, magistrates and judges, the book tells the often untold stories of the pioneers, reformers and influencers who paved the way, revealing the barriers they faced, their challenges and triumphs.

It offers a unique insight into how women have succeeded in a profession still dominated by men, and looks ahead to the prospects for women in law in the next 100 years.