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Celebrate 100 years of women at the bar at the UK Supreme Court

Celebrate 100 years of women at the bar at the UK Supreme Court

23 September 2022

A pop–up exhibition about the centenary of the first woman to be called to the Bar is now on display at the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.

The exhibition features judges and other woman pioneers in the legal profession over the past 100 years. In particular, it celebrates the centenary of Ivy Williams’ achievement as the first woman to be called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1922.

Image of the Women in Law Pop-up Exhibition within The Supreme Court
Pop-up exhibition - 100 years of women at the Bar

The new exhibition complements a permanent artwork on display in the Supreme Court building which also celebrates women in law. ‘Legacy’ commemorated another centenary when it was unveiled in 2019: 100 years since the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act.

Chief Executive Vicky Fox said:

“I am delighted that this exhibition celebrating 100 years of women at the Bar will be featured in our beautiful building this autumn. The panels will show the history of pioneering women in the legal profession. Storytelling has the power to motivate us to build a better world. I hope that learning about the past and celebrating the achievements of these trailblazers will inspire visitors and lawyers alike to continue the journey toward full equality and inclusion in the legal profession. ”

“It’s free to visit the UK Supreme Court and there’s no need to book, so please come and bring the future lawyers in your family to see these historical figures in the highest court in the land ”.

Notes to editors

  1. Press enquiries should be directed to the UKSC Press Office:

    2. Scot Marchbank - Head of Communications
    07760 991037

    Cloe Ofori – Media and Communications Manager
    07909 686 541

  2. The exhibition has been on display since Thursday 8 September in the Lobby of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, Parliament Square, London. Visitors may visit both the Ivy Williams Centenary pop-up exhibition and the permanent artwork on display in Court 2 during normal opening hours.
  3. Further information about Ivy Williams is available at the First 100 Years website: https://first100years.org.uk/ivy-williams/
  4. ‘Legacy’, the artwork on display in Court 2 of the Supreme Court, is by artist Catherine Yass, commissioned by the charity Spark 21.
  5. Photographs of the exhibition which was first shown at the Royal Courts of Justice from May – July 2022 are available at Ivy Williams Centenary Exhibition | Flickr This follows the opening of the exhibition in Spring 2022 at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
  6. In 2021, the Supreme Court displayed a temporary outdoor exhibition called ‘Women in Law’, in collaboration with the First 100 Years project.