On 30th September 2024, 18 St John Street’s Siobhan Grey KC was delighted to be among 350 women King’s Counsel and Judges who came together at the Royal Courts of Justice to celebrate 75 years since the first women ‘took silk’ – an award for excellence in advocacy in the higher courts.
The first women silks were appointed in 1949. Those two trailblazers were Helena Normanton KC and Rose Heilbron KC.
The General Council of the Bar reports that “In the first 50 years of women silks, up to and including 1998, there were just under 100 (96) women. In the last 25 years (1999 to 2024) there have been 545 more appointed…the total number of women silks ever appointed now stands at 641.”
18 St John Street’s first female silk was the late Helen Grindrod KC, who was described as a “brilliant lawyer and fierce advocate”. Helen was called to the Bar in 1966, and she was the first of 18’s many female members, taking silk in 1982.
Siobhan Grey KC was the 353rd woman silk appointed.
The Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr, addressed the KCs and other attendees. She said:
“Women are generally well represented in the legal professions although we still see fewer women in the top positions.
“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.”
