International Women's Day is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women across various sectors, and when it comes to UK law, it’s a time to praise the many women who have played a critical role in shaping legal frameworks, advocating for justice and driving meaningful change.

Here, we highlight the contributions of pioneering women in criminal, family, immigration, and housing law, whilst also acknowledging the broader gender disparities that unfortunately do still exist in the legal profession.

Beginning with…

 

Why International Women’s Day is Important in Law

International Women's Day is more than a celebration, it’s a reminder of the ongoing need for gender equality, something which is particularly important in the UK law industry as women account for only 37% of law firm partners, despite making up 53% of practising solicitors in the UK according to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Latest data from the Bar Standards Board also highlights that as of 2024, 52% of trainee barristers are women, and whilst this does indicate a positive shift in entry-level representation,  progression to senior roles remains a challenge.

This is in fact is more pronounced at the Bar, where women make up 40% of all barristers but just 20% of King’s Counsel (KC), the highest rank in the profession, as well as the fact that women in the judiciary hold only 42% of all judicial positions.

Together, these statistics demonstrate slow but steady progress while underscoring the ongoing barriers to true equality at the top. This is why International Women's Day remains crucial—not just to celebrate achievements but to drive meaningful change, ensuring that female legal professionals receive the recognition, support, and opportunities they deserve at every stage of their careers.

 

Historical trailblazers in UK Law

• Helena Normanton KC and Rose Heilbron KC; who both became the first women appointed as King’s Counsel in 1949, and whose achievements paved the way for greater female representation in advocacy and courtroom roles.
• Mrs Justice Elizabeth Lane; who became the first female High Court Judge in 1965, and whose legacy continues to inspire women pursuing careers in the judiciary today.
• Baroness Brenda Hale; who became the first woman to serve as the President of the Supreme Court in 2017, and whose landmark judgments on family law, human rights and gender equality have had a lasting impact on the UK legal system.
• Mary Arden QC; who was appointed as the first female Lord Justice of Appeal in 2016, breaking barriers in the higher judiciary and setting a powerful example for future generations of women in law.
• Shami Chakrabarti; who made significant strides in civil liberties law as Director of Liberty, advocating for human rights and equal treatment under the law, particularly in the areas of discrimination and anti-terrorism legislation.
• Dame Jennifer Smith; who became the first woman to hold the position of Chief Crown Prosecutor for Greater Manchester in 1999, helping shape the direction of the Crown Prosecution Service and leading high-profile cases that reinforced the importance of fair trial practices and justice for all.

These women’s accomplishments were groundbreaking at a time when female representation in law was minimal, and their perseverance laid the foundation for the increasing presence of women in all branches of the legal profession.

 

Women in Criminal Law today

Lady Edwina Grosvenor

Philanthropist and criminal justice reformer, Lady Edwina Grosvenor has worked extensively to improve conditions for female offenders. In order to achieve this, she founded Hope Street, a rehabilitation initiative offering women an alternative to prison, providing accommodation, therapy and support services, an initiative which to this day has resulted in significant positive outcomes for women in the criminal justice system.

Hope Street provides a safe and supportive environment for women who might otherwise face custodial sentences, helping them to rebuild their lives through access to education, employment opportunities and mental health support, and by addressing the root causes of offending such as domestic abuse, addiction and poverty, Hope Street has played a vital role in breaking the cycle of reoffending.

Lady Edwina Grosvenor’s work continues to influence wider criminal justice reform, advocating for policies that prioritise rehabilitation over incarceration, and the initiative has been praised for its trauma-informed approach, offering women a path to rehabilitation rather than punishment.

As a result of her tireless dedication to improving the lives of women in the criminal justice system, Lady Edwina Grosvenor has become a trailblazer in criminal justice reform, shaping policy and paving the way for a more compassionate, rehabilitative approach to female offenders.

 

Harriet Harman KC

Barrister and long-serving MP, Harriet Harman is currently leading a Bar Council review into sexism within the legal profession, and with women making up just 20% of KC-level barristers, her work aims to challenge structural biases and create a more inclusive legal industry.

In fact, Harriet Harman has always been a strong advocate for gender equality throughout her career and has consistently pushed for reforms to improve women's representation in senior legal roles. To date, her review not only highlights the barriers female barristers face in progressing to KC level but also seeks to implement tangible changes, such as better mentorship, workplace policies and accountability measures to tackle discrimination, and by addressing these systemic issues, she aims to create a more equitable profession where women have the same opportunities to advance and succeed at the highest levels of the Bar.

As a result, Harriet Harman has become a pioneering force within the Criminal Law sector.

 

Women in Family Law today

Carrie Laws

Carrie Laws is director at The Family Law Company in Plymouth, and has been a leading advocate for legal aid and access to justice since the early stages of her career, working to ensure that legal support remains available to those who need it most regardless of financial circumstances.

Her dedication to legal aid has been instrumental in securing fair representation for vulnerable individuals navigating complex family law disputes, so much so that she has also campaigned against domestic abuse by using her platform to highlight the disproportionate impact of family law cases on women.

This has helped to raise awareness of the urgent need for legal protections and specialist support services, and through her work, she has influenced policy discussions on improving legal aid funding and ensuring survivors of domestic abuse have access to the legal resources necessary to safeguard their rights and futures. Because of this, it is no wonder that her name is renowned in the Family Law field.

 

Alison Leivesley

As a partner at Bindmans LLP, Alison Leivesley has spent years working on complex family law cases to ensure that vulnerable individuals receive fair representation. Plus, with family law making up a sizeable portion of legal aid cases, her work is vital in securing justice for those who need it most, particularly for those facing financial hardship or challenging personal circumstances.

Throughout her career, Alison Leivesley has represented clients in cases involving child protection, domestic abuse and parental disputes, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights upheld, and as legal aid funding continues to face restrictions, she has been a strong advocate for maintaining access to justice for vulnerable individuals who might otherwise struggle to secure legal representation.

Overall, her work has not only helped shape case law but has also contributed to broader discussions on the need for a fairer and more accessible family justice system, making her an instrumental trailblazer in the world of Family Law.

 

Women in Immigration Law today

Catherine Meredith

Catherine Meredith is one of the UK’s leading experts on anti-trafficking law, working tirelessly to protect the rights of trafficking victims and hold the government accountable for its failures in identifying and supporting those affected.

Her legal challenges have been instrumental in reshaping policies and strengthening protections for survivors, many of whom are women who have been coerced into exploitation, and given that over 70% of human trafficking victims in the UK are women, her work has had a profound impact on gender-based immigration cases to ensure that victims receive the legal representation and support they need to rebuild their lives.

What’s more, through her role at Doughty Street Chambers, Catherine Meredith continues to advocate for stronger frameworks to safeguard the rights of vulnerable women seeking asylum or protection under modern slavery laws, leading the way for women in Immigration Law to stand firm and make a real difference.

 

Smita Shah

Barrister at Garden Court Chambers, Smita Shah specialises in asylum and immigration law with a focus on representing vulnerable women and children fleeing persecution, trafficking, and domestic violence.

Her work is critical in a legal landscape where immigration policies often leave women at risk of deportation, detention or unsafe living conditions, and Shah has taken on high-profile cases challenging unjust Home Office decisions to ensure that the UK upholds its commitments to human rights and refugee protections.

With immigration policies affecting thousands of women seeking refuge in the UK, her advocacy helps secure essential legal protections, offering hope to those in desperate need of safety and stability and making her an invaluable woman in Immigration Law.

 

Women in Housing Law today

Alison Pickup

Alison Pickup is an associate at Doughty Street Chambers and has been a driving force in housing law through representing tenants and vulnerable individuals in disputes with landlords and local authorities.

With housing insecurity disproportionately affecting women, particularly single mothers who make up the majority of social housing tenants in the UK, according to Shelter UK, her work is crucial in preventing homelessness and ensuring fair access to stable accommodation.

Alison Pickup has also successfully challenged unlawful evictions and fought for better legal protections for those facing housing discrimination, and through her involvement in policy discussions and strategic litigation, she has helped shape legal precedents that improve housing rights for low-income families to ensure that women and children are not left without a safe place to live.

 

Kate Bingham

Kate Bingham is a solicitor at the Public Law Project, and has worked extensively on cases related to homelessness and the rights of tenants by representing individuals facing eviction and those at risk of being displaced due to the actions of local authorities or private landlords.

A significant part of her work has focused on ensuring that women, especially those from marginalised communities, have access to secure housing, which is vital for their safety and well-being, and she has also advocated for reforms to improve the provision of housing assistance for vulnerable groups by emphasising the importance of supportive housing policies that take into account the specific challenges women face in securing stable homes.

Her contributions continue to shape housing law to ensure that it serves and protects the most vulnerable members of society, and as such, she has become a well-known name in the Housing Law field.

 

Foresight: Advocating For Women in UK Law

The contributions of female trailblazers in UK law have been transformative, reshaping the legal landscape across criminal, family, immigration, and housing law. And yet, whilst the statistics do highlight progress, they also serve as a reminder of the work still needed to achieve true gender parity.

International Women's Day is a moment to celebrate achievements but also to continue advocating for systemic change. After all, women in law have made remarkable strides, and it is only by ensuring continued support, mentorship, and policy reform, that the next generation of female legal professionals can break even more barriers.

At Foresight, we are committed to supporting and amplifying the voices of women in law, helping to pave the way for future leaders.

If you would like to talk to our team about instructing an expert, please get in touch.