October 1, 2024
Chambers proudly marked the 75th anniversary of the appointment of the first women silks this evening at a commemorative event held at the Royal Courts of Justice hosted by the Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill.
A number of RLC female silks attended the celebration, paying tribute to the trailblazers of the past and to mark the ongoing progress in gender equality within the legal profession.
In 1949, Helena Normanton and Rose Heilbron made history as the first women to be appointed to silk. Over the last 75 years, a total of 639 women have followed in their footsteps, furthering the representation of women at the highest levels of the Bar.
RLC have seen a total of 17 female silks to date. Illustrious names who have gone onto senior positions include Dame Linda Dobbs DBE, Sara Lawson KC (General Counsel Serious Fraud Office (UK), HH Patricia Lynch KC and Carey Johnston KC.
Current members of the judiciary include HHJ Angela Rafferty KC, HHJ Sally Ann Hales KC and HHJ Rosina Cottage KC.
Current Silks include Gillian Jones KC ( co-Head of Chambers), Jane Bewsey KC, Riel Karmy-Jones KC, Kate Bex KC, Michelle Nelson KC, Jenni Dempster KC, Allison Clare KC, Hannah Wilcocks KC and Rebecca Chalkley KC.
Gillian Jones KC, who took silk in 2017 and became RLC’s first female co-head, expressed her pride in the progress made:
“RLC is proud to hold one of the highest percentages of female silks working at the Bar and remains steadfast in its commitment to championing women in law. Currently, 35% of RLC silks are female—well above the average across the Bar.
Above all, we understand the challenges women can face while managing busy practices and balancing personal/family commitments.
From the RLC pioneers of the past, to those who have achieved silk and those striving toward it- our strong networks here in Chambers enable us to support women at every stage of their career at the Bar.”