By Henry Ea -
On a wet and stormy winter night, a powerful assembly gathered at Parliament House, Sydney, not just to commemorate a century since the first female solicitor was admitted in New South Wales, but to ignite a "call to arms" for the next 100 years of gender equality in the legal profession.
On a wet and stormy winter night, a powerful assembly gathered at Parliament House, Sydney, not just to commemorate a century since the first female solicitor was admitted in New South Wales, but to ignite a “call to arms” for the next 100 years of gender equality in the legal profession.
The event was a collaboration among several prominent law schools (UNSW, Macquarie University, Western Sydney University, UTS, and the University of Sydney) in the historically significant Jubilee Room. As NSW Minister for Finance, Courtney Houssos observed during her welcome address, this space was once exclusively for “old cigar smoking men considering matters of state” – a stark contrast to the stellar lineup of female leaders and allies present. Among the distinguished guests were Chief Justice Andrew Bell, Justice Julie Ward, NSW Governor Margaret Beazley AC KC, and Attorney General Michael Daley.
The evening celebrated pioneers like Marie Byles, NSW’s first female solicitor, and Sybil Morrison, the first female barrister, who were both admitted in 1924. Minister Houssos shared a personal reflection on the Jubilee Room, noting how its original occupants differed vastly from today’s diverse parliamentarians. She recalled giving a speech there with her newborn son, highlighting the profound shift: “I’m not sure that’s really what those old men had in mind, but I think we’ve trumped it tonight.” Houssos celebrated the room now being “full of amazing women who are trailblazing in their own way and inspiring so many,” emphasising the collective debt owed to the “women that came before us.”
Progress and persistent gaps
Verity Firth, Vice-President of Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement at UNSW, articulated the evening’s dual purpose: “Tonight, we celebrate 100 years since the very first female solicitor was admitted to practice … we celebrate all that women lawyers have achieved … And most of all we look forward to the next 100 years, because there’s so much more still to be done.”
Despite significant progress, the event spotlighted the persistent gender disparities within the legal field. While 53 per cent of UNSW’s law graduates are female, and 43.3 per cent of judicial officers across NSW are women, other statistics reveal a continued imbalance. As of 2023, only 29 per cent of women in private practice were principals, and a mere 26.7 per cent of the 2,466 barristers were women, with only 15.8 per cent of the almost 400 senior counsel being female. Pay disparity also remains a pressing concern.
Reflecting on a challenging past
The historical context of women in law was vividly brought to life by Governor Margaret Beazley, herself a proud alumni of Sydney University Law School. She recounted the minimal attention given to women in early legal histories, noting that a 1976 inquiry into the legal profession, a 625-page report, included only a three-line reference to women under the heading “Age and Sex of Lawyers.”
Governor Beazley highlighted the early obstacles faced by trailblazers like Marie Byles, who had to pay double the usual amount for her articles of clerkship compared to her male counterparts, and her skills met with scepticism by male colleagues.
Even in more recent times, Governor Beazley shared her own experiences upon entering the profession in 1975, encountering difficulty getting chambers and being told to specialise in family law because women were not “capable or suitable of doing anything else.”
“But tonight is not my story. It’s the story of all of us. It’s the story of the wonderful people in this room, the wonderful names that we’re here seeing go across the screen. But it’s also, and in particular, the stories of those early women in the profession who made it possible for those who followed,” Beazley said.
A call to action for the next century
Attorney General Michael Daley acknowledged the invaluable contributions of women in the legal system, noting that “more than half the New South Wales graduates in law and solicitors are women,” and that he values the opportunity to work with “amazing women right across the legal system.” He proudly highlighted his judicial appointments, including the state’s first female District Court Chief Judge, Sarah Huggett, and more than 30 women to the local court during his tenure.
“I look forward to making many more such appointments, drawing from the exceptional breadth of talent and experience of women in the New South Wales legal system,” Daley said.
“For many reasons … I strongly believe that the make-up of the judiciary should represent the make-up of the society over which its members preside.”
The event also showcased cutting-edge research on gender equality in law, a crucial component of the “Next 100 Years Project.” This collaborative research, led by Professor Mimi Zou, Head of the School of Private & Commercial Law at UNSW, and involving all five participating universities, aims to inform policy and practice for future progress. Professor Zou emphasised that this research is not only “intellectually rigorous” but also “transformative,” giving voice to diverse groups of women impacted by laws and institutions, including Muslim women in law schools, Aboriginal women navigating will-making, and women on temporary visas facing domestic violence.
“Women today, and particularly those from marginalised and minority backgrounds, continue to face many barriers to equality, unequal pay, under representation in senior leadership roles and gender-based discrimination, including sexual harassment,” she said. “The law must do better, and the legal profession must lead that change.”
Gabrielle Upton, former NSW Environment Minister and Attorney General, drew parallels between the centenary of women in law and the recent celebration of 100 years of women in parliament, noting that both historic moments coincided with a “perfect storm” of law reform, economic opportunity, access to education, and cultural change. She emphasised that “progress and women taking up these roles is not parity, which is what we seek,” and stressed the need for continued action to dissolve persistent cultural and structural barriers.
While significant strides have been made in the past 100 years, the journey towards true gender equality in the legal profession is far from over. The “Next 100 Years Project” serves as a powerful testament to the ongoing commitment to address challenges, drive change, and ensure a truly equitable and inclusive legal landscape for generations to come.
As Zou noted, the evening was a pivotal moment, urging attendees to look ahead to shape the next 100 years of women in law. She described it as a “call to action” to envision a legal profession that is both inclusive and responsive to ongoing gender challenges within laws, institutions, and communities. Zou emphasised that “equality in law is not a side issue,” but rather central to justice, leadership, and the future of the legal profession.
“Let us remember that, as the first and premier state, NSW has the opportunity to lead this change. To drive the next century of progress, inclusion and justice for women in law,” Zou concluded.
