More than 350 women KCs and judges came together in the Great Hall of the Royal Courts of Justice to mark 75 years since women were first appointed as King’s Counsel.

The event was organised by Mrs Justice McGowan, who took silk in 2001 and is number 120 on the list; Mrs Justice Theis, who took silk in 2003 (number 143) and Mrs Justice Morgan, who took silk in 2011 (number 245).

The Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr, who took silk in 2003 (#147 in the list of women silks), addressed the KCs and other attendees. She said:

“Progress has been made but the path is much harder for some and we must, as we do tonight, celebrate success – that’s you, all of you here tonight – you are all magnificent and an extraordinary inspiration to the profession and to young aspiring lawyers everywhere.

“As a member of the Judicial Diversity Forum, I work with the Lord Chancellor, and leaders of the Judicial Appointments Commission, Legal Services Board, CILEx, Law Society and Bar Council in coordinating efforts to ensure the judiciary is an inclusive and welcoming place to work for judges, or prospective judges – the pipeline of great talent is so important to this work and must be recognised tonight.”

Mrs Justice Mcgowan said:

“This is an occasion of celebration; following the path laid by those few women so many years ago we have moved increasingly towards greater equality in representation for women coming to the Bar and in being appointed silk.

“We have not yet reached parity, but we have made great progress, and I am delighted to mark this wonderful achievement.”

Helena Normanton and Rose Heilbron were the first women in England and Wales to take silk in 1949, becoming KCs under King George VI.

Dame Rose’s daughter, Hilary Heilbron KC, who became the 29th woman KC in 1987, attended the celebration and addressed the crowd. She said:

“I am extremely proud to join with so many others in tonight’s celebration of the achievements of my mother, aged only 34, and Helena Normanton in breaking the mould 75 years ago by being the first women to take silk.

“As a strong and vocal supporter of women’s rights and opportunities for women in the law, my mother would have been delighted to learn of the progress that has been made, slow though it has been.

“She would have been thrilled, as I am, that we have gathered here to recognise not only the achievements of 75 years ago, but also of so many other trailblazing women in the legal profession since then, but there is still a way to go.”

The total number of women silks ever appointed now stands at 641 and in hte most recent ‘competition’ annoucned in January 2024, 32% of successful applicants were women (30 out of 95).

Women are also achieving silk as solicitors. Solicitors with higher rights of audience have been eligible to become KCs since 1995. Since then, 65 solicitors have successfully been appointed, 11 of whom are women.