Timeline

Although there was no law specifically disqualifying women from becoming lawyers, the common law created a significant obstacle since it did not regard women as a “person”. In an interview with the Evening News in 1902, Evans explained that she had “tried to get admittance to practise in some form. The Chief Justice, when I wanted to be admitted some time ago, pointed out that women were not admitted in London and so could not be here. I didn’t like that, for I don’t think we should slavishly follow London.”

Victoria was the first state in Australia to allow women to practise law. When Grata Flos Greig graduated with an LLB in March 1903, the Victorian Parliament passed the Women’s Disabilities Removal Act 1903 (nicknamed the “Flos Greig Enabling Act”) specifically to allow women to practise.

The preamble to the Act stated that it was “an Act to provide that women shall not by reason of sex be deemed to be under any disqualification to hold certain positions or to practise certain professions”. The Act also allowed women to stand for Parliament in NSW. Western Australia was the last state in Australia to allow women to practise law in 1923.

19 years after gaining her LLB, Ada Evans was admitted to the NSW Bar. Although she was immediately offered work, she declined to practise, citing family commitments.

Byles was head prefect and dux of Pymble Ladies College in 1917. Although she obtained her law degree in 1924, she had trouble getting a job until the Dean of Law at Sydney University, Sir John Peden, persuaded Henry Davis & Co to offer her a position. Byles had to pay double the usual £100 to her master solicitor for her clerkship.

Christian Jollie Smith was admitted as a solicitor in Victoria in 1912 and set up practice as a solicitor in Little Collins Street in 1914. After moving to Sydney she was admitted to the NSW roll of solicitors in October 1924. In 1927, she was the first woman in NSW to establish her own firm. A passionate socialist, Jollie Smith relied on her connections to the union movement to source work. She specialised in wage claims and civil liberties work.

First informal meetings of an association of women lawyers Female lawyers in NSW started to meet informally in 1941, first in the home of lawyer Veronica Pike, and then at the Feminist Club in King Street.

The Women Lawyers Association (WLA) was formally constituted in March 1952. The WLA’s objectives included “advocating for reform of law as it affects women and children”. It campaigned on issues such as divorce, child welfare, adoption and discriminatory work practices.

In 1970 Margaret Stephen was the first woman appointed a magistrate in NSW and became the first woman to sit on the Coroners’ Court.

In March 1976 she became Australia’s first Aboriginal barrister. In 1979, O’Shane also became the first member of the New South Wales Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board. In 1981 she was appointed permanent head of the New South Wales Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, becoming both the first Aboriginal person and the first woman to become a permanent head of a ministry in Australia.

Mahla Pearlman joined the Law Society’s Council in 1976 and became the Law Society’s first female President in 1981. Pearlman had already made history in 1979 by becoming the first female representative on the Solicitors Admission Board.

Eight years after being appointed the first female President of the Law Society of NSW, Mahla Pearlman was appointed the first female President of the Law Council of Australia.

Mary Gaudron became the first woman appointed to the High Court of Australia in 1987. The appointment of a woman to the High Court caused those appearing before the Court to change their method of addressing High Court justices from “The Honourable Mr Justice X” to “The Honourable Justice X”.

Pearlman, who died in 2011 aged 74, reflected on the changing opportunities for women in the legal profession by commenting, “I don’t think I could have had my career over these 30 years if I had married. You could do it now, though.”

In 1999, Ruth McColl SC was appointed as the first woman President of the NSW Bar Association, a position she held for two years. In 2001 she then became President of the Australian Bar Association.

Margaret Beazley was both the first woman to sit as a Judge of Appeal on the New South Wales Court of Appeal in 1996, and the first woman appointed President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal in 2013. Prior to her appointment to the New South Wales Court of Appeal, Justice Beazley was appointed a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia in 1993, being the first female appointment to sit solely as a judge of the Federal Court.

Sue Kench was the first woman to become managing partner of one of the big six law firms when she was appointed Australian managing partner of King & Wood Mallesons in July 2013.

Upton joined the NSW Legislative Assembly in 2011 as the Member for Vaucluse. 2015 also marked the first time women held the majority on the Council of the Law Society.

Court in September 2007, after serving as a judge of the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Queensland. Kiefel was admitted to the Queensland Bar in 1975 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1987. Kiefel was the third woman appointed to the High Court of Australia.