This year marks a century since the first woman was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn.
On the 13th of June 1923, Edith Hesling, from Flixton in Manchester, became the first woman called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn. Receiving the ‘call to the Bar’ is a legal term for when a Barrister becomes qualified to argue in court on behalf of a Lawyer or an individual.
Edith set many precedents in her career. She was the inaugural woman to appear at the Bar. At the age of 28, she became the number one woman to receive a prestigious ‘red bag’ traditionally gifted by a ‘King’s Counsel’ KC Barrister in recognition of contributing over and above the call of duty.
Her greatest legal achievement was becoming the first woman to preside over the County Court as a Deputy Judge, which was reported in newspapers with...
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