Women in Law celebrated with portrait exhibition and lecture
Friday 04 March 2022
The Bar of Northern Ireland celebrated the achievements of female QCs with a photographic exhibition and lecture as part of the Legal History Project lecture series marking the centenary of the Bar and Judiciary on Thursday 03 March.
The event marked one hundred years since the first women entered the profession, namely Frances Kyle from Belfast and Avril Deverill from Wicklow. It also came during the week of International Women’s Day 2022 and as part of reflection on 100 years of law in Northern Ireland.
The photographic exhibition features portraits of female barristers and is aimed at celebrating and promoting the visibility of women within the profession, with the subjects present for the unveiling of their portraits.
Moira Smyth QC, is a portrait subject and delivered the lecture, looking back at the history of women in the profession and reflecting the experiences of females today.
Moira Smyth QC commented:
“There has never been a better time to be a woman in law in this jurisdiction. The Bar is happily a more diverse and inclusive profession than at any stage in our history.
“However, we must keep building the future for women. Despite recent progress, women still account for 35-40% of the barrister profession across Northern Ireland and less than 20% of the total number of QCs.
“The glass ceiling may be starting to fracture - but is yet to break.”
Moira Smyth QC added:
“This photographic exhibition is important because visible examples of relatable role models have a powerful effect in inspiring and empowering others to follow in their footsteps.
“I’m delighted to have delivered the Women in Law Lecture and hope that these portraits can serve as a visible testament to what can be achieved and encourage the next generation of female barristers.”
The event can be viewed back using the link below:
Media contact:
e: media@barlibrary.com
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