Lawyer Monthly - Women In Law Special Edition

1975 The Sex Discrimination Act made it illegal for companies to promote or employ a male worker with fewer qualifications and less experience over a qualified and well experienced female worker. The Act shifted to enable more equality in the workplace, by stating it was also illegal to demote employees on their return from maternity and paternity leave, and refusing to hire women based on the nature of the work, for e.g., physical qualities. 1976 A big shift saw 16% intake of female barristers at the Bar. This was the first time the intake hit more than 10%, showcasing a rise of female barristers. 1998 Dame Heather Carol Hallett was elected as the first woman to Chair the Bar Council. 2004 Listed as one of Britain’s most powerful women, Dame Linda Penelope Dobbs became the first non-white person to be appointed to the senior judiciary in England and Wales. 2009 After establishing a career as an academic lawyer, law reformer and judge, Baroness Hale was appointed he first woman Justice of the Supreme Court. 2013 The youngest person to be called to the Bar in 600 years was Gabrielle Turnquest . 2014 For the first time, statistics had shown that women overtook men for practising as solicitors. At the time there were 4623 women compared to 4609 men practising as solicitors in Ireland. 2013 The first woman to be appointed as Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice – a role which was created in 1707 - was Elizabeth Truss.