Foundation of the Association of Women Barristers (1991)

Colour photo of the Royal Courts of Justice

Over the years, the Association of Women Barristers has been involved in every major consultation and advance in equality and diversity which has benefited not only women barristers but also men at the Bar.

Frances Burton

Unlike the Association of Women Solicitors, with its origins in the period immediately before and after the 1919 Act, the foundation of the Association of Women Barristers in 1991 came about as the result of an initiative of a group of Common Law and Chancery women barristers. They called a meeting to discuss the concept of an association which would provide mutual support to women in all sectors of the Bar, and to lobby for some of the equality and diversity measures that were significantly lacking in the profession generally. The Association’s first Chairwoman was Jennifer Horne-Roberts. Over the years, the Association has been involved in every major consultation and advance in equality and diversity which has benefited not only women barristers but also men at the Bar.

The full version of this landmark is written by Frances Burton.

 

Learn More

Fiona Jackson, ‘Association of Women Barristers’ (Counselhttps://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/articles/association-of-women-barristers

Hilary Heilbron, ‘Women at the Bar: An Historical Perspective’ (Counselhttps://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/articles/women-the-bar-historical-perspectivec

Jennifer Jones, ‘Mentoring Minutes for Inspiring Women’ (Counselhttps://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/articles/mentoring-minutes-inspiring-women

Sarah Mercer, ‘Snapshot: Women at the Bar’ (Counsel, October 2015) https://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/articles/snapshot-women-the-bar