A - B
Harold Abrahams - Won gold in 100m sprint, 1924 Paris Olympics
Bio
(1899-1978). Adm IT 1919; Call 1924. Lawyer, journalist.
He won silver in 4 x 100m relay and gold in 100m sprint at the 1924 Paris Olympics, a feat depicted in the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire.
Image source: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b530727104
John Adams - Barrister and Cartographer
Bio
(Ci. 1670 – C. 1738) , Adm IT 1672.
Barrister and cartographer.
Responsible for creating a map of England with measured miles and distance of each town from its neighbours; and also creating an alphabetical list of all English and Welsh place names dedicated to Charles II.
Musa Alami - Palestinian Politician
Bio
(1897-1984). Adm IT 1920; Call 1924.
Palestinian lawyer, philanthropist, founder and president of the Arab Development Society
HRH The Princess Royal - 2011 Royal Treasurer
Bio
HRH The Princess Royal KG KT GCVO QSO (1950-). Royal Bencher 1990; Royal Treasurer 2011.
Clement Attlee - Prime Minister 1945-51
Bio
1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS (1883-1967). Adm IT 1904; Call 1906; PC 1935. Clement Richard Attlee, A British Labour Party politician who was Prime Minister of the UK from 1945-1951. He was the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955.
Thomas Audley - Presided over trial of Sir Thomas More
Bio
1st Baron Audley of Walden (1488-1544). Adm IT 1510; Bencher 1524; Reader 1526.
MP for Essex 1523; Inner Temple’s first recorded Lord Chancellor. Presided over trial of Sir Thomas More
Obafemi Awolowo - Nigerian Nationalist and Statesman
Bio
(1909-87). Adm IT 1944; Call 1946. Premier of Western Nigeria (1954-1960); Federal Commissioner for Finance (1967-71). Nigerian Nationalist and Statesman who played a key role in Nigeria’s independence movement.
Image: Obafemi Awolowo by Bassano Ltd
Image Source: https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw89467/
Joyce Bamford-Addo - First woman to serve as Speaker in an African Parliament
Bio
The Rt Hon Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo JSC (1937-). Adm IT 1949; Call 1961. State Attorney 1963; Chief State Attorney 1973. Director of Public Prosecutions 1976; Supreme Court Judge 1994 to 2004; Speaker in the Parliament of Ghana 2009 to 2013.
William Norman Birkett - Judge at Nuremberg trials
Bio
1st Baron Birkett, Kt, PC, QC (1883-1962). Adm IT 1910; Call 1913; KC 1924; Bencher 1930; Treasurer 1956; Lord Justice of Appeal 1950-56.
Judge at Nuremberg trials. Outstanding advocate.
Image Source: https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw99896/
Jill Black - Second woman to be a Supreme Court Judge
Bio
The Rt Hon Lady Black DBE (1954-). Adm IT 1974; Call 1976 QC 1994; Deputy High Court Judge 1996; Family Division of the High Court 1999 ; Chairman of the Judicial Studies Board’s Family Committee 2004; Judicial Appointments Commissioner 2008-2013; Court of Appeal 2010 and Supreme Court 2017-2020.
James Boswell - Diarist and Biographer
Bio
(1740-95). Adm IT 1761; Call 1786; recorder of Carlisle 1788-90; resided in Farrar’s Buildings.
Diarist and biographer, author of the Life of Samuel Johnson some claim to be the greatest biography ever written.
“The method of living in the Inner Temple is, in my opinion, the most agreeable in the world for a single man.”
Image Source: https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/use-this-image.php?mkey=mw00687
Thomas Bromley - Presided over trial of Mary, Queen of Scots
Bio
(1530-87). Adm IT 1550; Call n.d.; Reader 1566; Treasurer 1573-75; Recorder of London 1566-69; SG 1569-79; MP; LC 1579-87; PC; Knt 1579.
Presided over trial of Mary, Queen of Scots, 1586. Sealed execution warrant.
Robert Buckland - Former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Bio
The Rt Hon Robert Buckland KC MP. Adm IT 1987; Call 1991; Bencher 2015; QC 2014; PC 2019; MP (C) South Swindon, since 2010; Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, 2019-2021.
Elizabeth Butler-Sloss - First woman member of Court of Appeal
Bio
Baroness Butler-Sloss GBE (1933-). Adm IT 1951; Call 1955; Bencher 1979; Reader 1997; Treasurer 1998; Lord Justice of Appeal 1988-99; President Family Division 1999.
First woman member of Court of Appeal; first woman Treasurer of The Inner Temple.
C
Sue Carr - Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales
Bio
The Rt Hon The Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill DBE. Admitted 1985; Call 1987; Bencher 2006. QC 2003; Recorder 2009; High Court judge 2013-2020; Court of Appeal 2020-2023; Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales 2023-
Chair of Professional Negligence Bar Association in 2007 and2008, and the chairman of the Conduct Committee of the Bar Standards Board from 2008-2011. In April 2011, Carr was appointed Disciplinary Commissioner in proceedings before the International Criminal Court. She was a member of the board of the Judicial College 2014-2018, and served as a member of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal 2014-2016. She is the first woman to serve as the head of the judiciary of England and Wales since the inception of the office of Lord Chief Justice in the 13th century.
Edwin Chadwick - 19th Century Social Reformer
Bio
Sir Edwin Chadwick KCB (1800-1890). Adm IT 1823; Call 1830. Social reformer.
Eugenia Charles - First woman to be a lawyer in Dominica, and the first to be Prime Minister
Bio
Mary Eugenia Charles DBE (1919-2005). Adm IT 1943; Call 1947; co-founded, and elected President of the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) 1969; Prime Minister 1980.
Geoffrey Chaucer - Poet and author
Bio
Membership of Inner Temple claimed by sixteenth century antiquary but not corroborated. Poet , author, courtier and civil servant. JP; MP.
Mentioned a ‘Manciple of a Temple’ in the ‘Prologue to the Canterbury Tales’.
Eugene Chen - Sun Yat-sen's Foreign Minister
Bio
(1878-1944). Chinese Trinidadian lawyer who in the 1920s became Sun Yat-sen’s foreign minister
Robert Erskine Childers - Author and Irish Nationalist
Bio
(1870-1922). Adm IT 1892; former resident at 2 Mitre Court.
Author and Irish nationalist.
Lynda Clark - The first woman Advocate General for Scotland
Bio
The Rt Hon The Baroness Clark of Calton KC . Adm IT (ad eundem) 1990, Call 1977 (Scottish Bar). PC 2013; Advocate General for Scotland 1999–2006; a Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland (a judge of the Supreme Courts of Scotland) 2006–19; Chairman, Scottish Law Commission, 2012–14
Edward Coke - The greatest jurist of the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras
Bio
Sir Edward Coke (1552-1634). Adm CI 1571; Adm IT 1572; Call 1578; Bencher 1590; Treasurer 1595-7; Solicitor General 1592; Attorney General 1594; Knt 1603; Serjeant 1606; Chief Justice of the Common Pleas 1606; Chief Justice of the King’s Bench 1613-16; MP 1589; Speaker 1593.
One of most influential judges. attacked royal prerogative and defended supremacy of Parliament.
Author of commentary on Littleton (qv)
D - G
Coomee Rustom Dantra - First Burmese woman admitted to an Inn
Bio
Adm IT 1924; Call 1928. First Burmese woman admitted to an Inn.
Ezlynn Deraniyagala - Lawyer, feminist and first female barrister in Sri Lanka
Bio
(1908-73). Adm IT 1930; Call 1934. Sri Lankan lawyer and feminist who was the first female barrister in the country; fifth President of the International Alliance of Women (1958-1964)
Image: http://slwla.org/images/history/Ezlynn-Deraniyagala.jpg
Image Source: http://slwla.org/history.php
Ernest De Silva - Sri Lankan philanthropist
Bio
Sir Ernest De Silva (1887-1957). Adm IT 1907; Call 1912.
Sri Lankan philanthropist.
Leeona Dorrian - 2nd most senior judge and most senior woman judge in Scotland
Bio
The Rt Hon Lady Dorrian (1957 – ). Adm IT 1991, Call 1991; Bencher 2018. QC (Scot) 1994; Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland 2005; Lord Justice Clerk and President, Second Division, Court of Session 2016. The second most senior judge and most senior woman judge in Scotland.
Francis Drake - Circumnavigator and Admiral
Bio
Sir Francis Drake (c1540-96). Adm IT: 1582.
Circumnavigator and Admiral
Robert Dudley - Courtier, Master of the Queen's Horse, favourite of Elizabeth I
Bio
Lord Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (c1533-88). Adm IT 1561; Master of Revels at the Inner Temple, 1561. Courtier, Master of the Queen’s Horse, favourite of Elizabeth I. Son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland (qv)
Taslim Olawale Elias - Nigerian jurist, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice
Bio
(1914-1999). Adm IT 1944; Call 1947. Nigerian jurist, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice (1966-1972) and Chief Justice of Nigeria (1972-75); Vice President of the International Court of Justice (1979-82) ; President of the International Court of Justice (1982-1985);
Photo Source: http://proxy.handle.net/10648/acd6484a-d0b4-102d-bcf8-003048976d84
Heneage Finch - Involved in trial of Regicides in reign of Charles II
Bio
1st Earl of Nottingham (1621-82). Adm IT 1638; Call 1645; Reader 1661; Treasurer 1661-72; SG 1660; Attorney General 1670; Lord Keeper 1673; Lord Chancellor 1675-82. Known as the ‘silver-tongued lawyer’ and the ‘father of modern equity’ (DNB).
Mohandas Gandhi - Architect of Indian Independence
Bio
Adm IT 1888; Call 1891; disbarred 1922; reinstated 1988.
“There were two conditions which had to be fulfilled before a student was formally called to the bar: ‘keeping terms’, twelve terms equivalent to about three years; and passing examinations. ‘Keeping terms’ meant eating one’s terms i.e. attending at least six dinners out of about twenty-four dinners in a term. Eating did not mean actually partaking of the dinner, it meant reporting oneself at the fixed hours and remaining present throughout the dinner. Usually of course everyone ate and drank the good commons and choice wines provided. A dinner cost from two and six to three and six, that is from two to three rupees … I often ate nothing at these dinners, for the things that I might eat were only bread, boiled potato and cabbage. In the beginning I did not eat these, as I did not like them; and later, when I began to relish them, I also gained the courage to ask for other dishes. ” – The story of my experiments with Truth
William Schwenk Gilbert - Best known as half of Gilbert and Sullivan
Bio
Sir William Schwenk Gilbert, W. S. Gilbert, (1836-1911). Adm IT 1855; Call 1863; Knt 1907. Playwright, librettist and author. Famous as collaborator with Sir Arthur Sullivan on comic operettas.
Image source: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dd-f9a4-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
Rayner Goddard - First LCJ to possess a law degree
Bio
Baron Goddard (1877-1971). Adm IT 1896; Call 1891; Bencher 1929; Lord Chief Justice 1946-58. First Lord Chief Justice to be elected by a Labour government and the first to possess a law degree.
Frene Ginwala - Anti-apartheid campaigner who became Speaker of the National Assembly of SA
Bio
Dr Frene Noshir Ginwala (1932 – ). Adm IT 1957; Call 1964.
H - I
Edward Marshall Hall - Known as "The Great Defender"
Bio
Sir Edward Marshall Hall (1858-1927). Adm IT 1880; Call 1883; bencher 1910; QC 1898; MP 1900; Knt 1917.
Involved in a number of sensational cases, including Russell Divorce case 1923.
Arthur Henry Hallam (1811-33) - Poet and Author
Bio
(1811-33). Adm IT 1832. Poet and author. Son of Henry Hallam (qv).
Friend of Alfred Tennyson, who wrote ‘In Memoriam’ on his death in Vienna in 1833.
Heather Hallett - First woman to chair the Bar Council
Bio
The Rt Hon Lady Justice Hallett DBE (1949 – ). Adm IT 1970; Call 1972; Bencher 1993; Treasurer 2011. QC 1989; a Recorder, 1989–99; a Deputy High Court Judge, 1995–99; a Judge of the High Court of Justice, QBD, 1999–2005. Leader, South Eastern Circuit, 1995–97; Presiding Judge, Western Circuit, 2001–04; Vice President, Queen’s Bench Division, 2012–14. Member Judicial Appointmentss Commission, 2006–10 (Vice-Chairman, 2007–10); Chairman, Judicial College (formerly Judicial Studies Bd), 2010–14 (Member, 2000–04). Chairman, General Council of the Bar, 1998 (Vice Chairman, 1997).
Alan P Herbert - Author, playwright and law reform activist
Bio
Sir Alan P Herbert (1890-1971). Adm IT 1912; Call 1919; MP for Oxford University 1935-50.
Author, humourist, playwright and law reform activist.
Rosalyn Higgins - First woman judge and President of the International Court of Justice
Bio
Dame Rosalyn Higgins GBE JSD FBA QC (1937-). Adm IT 1952; Call 1955; QC 1986; President of the International Court of Justice 2006.
First woman judge and President of the International Court of Justice
Daw Phar Hmee - First woman to practise as a barrister in Burma
Bio
Also Phwar Hmee or Phwar Mhe (1902 – 1962). Adm IT 1924; Call 1926.
First woman to practise as a barrister in Burma. 1927 she became the first woman to be called to the Bar in Rangoon.
Lim Beng Hong - First ethnic-Chinese and Malayan woman to be called to the English Bar
Bio
(later Oon Beng Hong OBE, known as Mrs B H Oon, 1903-1979) Adm IT 1923; Call 1926.
First ethnic-Chinese and Malayan woman to be called to the English Bar
Michael Howard - Former Leader of the Conservative Party
Bio
Baron Howard of Lympne CH PC QC (1941-). Adm IT 1961; Call 1964; QC 1982; PC 1990; Bencher 1992; MP 1983-2010; Home Sec. 1993-7
Thomas Hughes - Author of 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'
Bio
(1822-96). Adm LI 1845; Adm IT 1848; Call 1848; QC 1869; Bencher 1870; MP 1865-74
Author of ‘Tom Brown’s Schooldays’
Derry Irvine - Scottish lawyer, judge, and former Lord Chancellor
Bio
Alexander Andrew Mackay Irvine, Baron Irvine of Lairg PC QC (1940 – ). Adm IT 1962; Call 1967; QC 1978; Bencher 1985; PC.
Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain (1997-2003).
J - K
James II - First Royal Bencher of The Inner Temple
Bio
James, Duke of York (later James II). First Royal Bencher of IT. King 1685-88. Abdicated 1688.
Edwin James - First ever QC to suffer disbarment
Bio
(1812-82). Adm IT 1832; Call 1836; QC 1850; MP 1859-61; disbarred for unprofessional conduct 1861. Emigrated to New York, USA.
Performed on American stage, 1861-72. He was the first ever Queen’s Counsel to suffer disbarment.
George Jeffreys - Presided over 'Bloody Assizes'
Bio
1st Baron Jeffreys, PC, also known as “the Hanging Judge” (1645-1689). Adm IT 1663; Call 1668; Bencher 1678; Chief Justice of the King’s Bench 1683; Recorder of London 1678-80; Serjeant 1680; LCJ 1682; KC 1683; LC 1685.
Defender of Crown interests. Presided over ‘Bloody Assizes’ after Monmouth’s attempted rebellion 1685.
Died in Tower of London 1689.
Mohammed Ali Jinnah - Former President of Pakistan
Bio
(1876-1948). Adm LI 1893; Call LI 1896; Adm IT (Ad Eundem) 1931.
President of Pakistan 1947.
Constantin Karadja - Resp. for the safe flight of 1000s of Jews from Nazi Germany
Bio
Prince Constantin Karadja (1889-1950). Adm IT 1909; Call 1922.
Romanian Diplomat. Romanian Consul General in Berlin 1931-41. Head of Consulate Dept of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bucharest, 1941-44.
Responsible for the safe evacuation of thousands of Jews from Nazi Germany.
John Maynard Keynes - One of the most influential economists of the 20th century
Bio
First Baron Keynes (1883-1946). Adm IT 1905; British economist; civil servant; a director of the Bank of England; a patron of the arts; a director of the British Eugenics Society; a writer, a philosopher, and a farmer.
Seretse Khama - First President of Botswana
Bio
(1921-80). Adm IT 1946. Chief designate of Bamangwato Tribe, in Bechauanaland Protectorate; exiled for marriage to white woman, Ruth Williams; returned to Bechuanaland 1956; Leader of Bechauanaland Democratic Party; first President of Botswana.
Dorothy Knight Dix - First woman to sit as Recorder for a jury trial
Bio
Dorothy Knight Dix QC (1909 – 1970). Adm IT 1931; Call 1934.
QC 1957; 1968 appointed a County Court Judge.
First woman to sit as Recorder for a jury trial
L - Q
Elizabeth Lane - First woman High Court Judge & First woman Bencher
Bio
Dame Elizabeth Lane (1905-1988). Adm IT 1937; Call 1940; QC 1960; Bencher 1965; High Court Judge, Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division, 1965-79.
First woman appointed as a judge in the County Court, and the first woman High Court Judge in England and first woman Bencher at any Inn.
William Cosmo Gordon Lang - Archbishop of Canterbury (1928–1942)
Bio
1st Baron Lang of Lambeth (1864 – 1945). Admitted to IT 1884.
Bishop of Stepney 1901 – 1909; Archbishop of Canterbury 1928 – 1942; Archbishop of York 1909 – 1928
Sara Lawson - First woman General Counsel of the Serious Fraud Office
Bio
Adm IT 1989; Call 1990; Bencher 2015 and QC 2017
Thomas Littleton - Lawyer, judge, author of 'On Tenures'
Bio
Sir Thomas Littleton (c1415-81). Adm IT n.d.; Call n.d.; Serjeant 1453; KS 1455; Justice of the Common Pleas 1466-81.
Lawyer, judge, author of ‘On Tenures’
Theodora Llewelyn Davies - First woman to be admitted to The Inner Temple
Bio
(1898-1988). Adm IT 1920; Call 1922. First woman to be admitted to The Inner Temple.
Douglas Lowe - British double Olympic champion, won gold medals in 1924 & 1928
Bio
Douglas Gordon Arthur Lowe (1902-1981). Adm IT 1925; Call 1928; Bencher 1957; QC 1964.
British double Olympic Games champion, winning gold medals in 1924 and 1928. On both occasions he set British 800-metres records of 1:52.4 and 1:51.8 respectively, the latter also being an Olympic record.
Image source: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b9025870t
Ken Macdonald - Former Director of Public Prosecutions
Bio
The Rt Hon the Lord Macdonald of River Glaven KC (1953 – ). Adm IT 1975; Call 1978; Bencher 2004. Director of Public Prosecutions 2003 – 2008, Warden of Wadham College Oxford 2012 -.
Image source: https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/member/ken-macdonald/
Allyson Maynard Gibson - 1st female QC in the Bahamas, former Attorney General
Bio
The Hon. Allyson Maynard Gibson QC. Adm IT 1977; Call 1980. A Bahamian barrister, politician, and community rights advocate, particularly with regard to laws affecting women and children. 2012-2017 she was the Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs of The Bahamas, and leader of government business in the Senate of the Bahamas. From 2002-2007, she served as Minister of Financial Services and Investments in the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) administration. In January 2015, she became the first woman to be appointed a Queen’s Counsel in the Bahamas.
She is the daughter of former deputy prime minister (1985-92) Clement T. Maynard.
Image Source: ITU Telecom World 2016 – Signing Ceremony, Author J. Marchand, ITU Pictures from Geneva, Switzerland
Barbara Mills - First Black person to be elected Chair of the Bar Council
Bio
Barbara Mills KC. Adm IT 1988; Call 1990; Silk 2020; Bencher 2021. Joint Head of Chambers at 4PB; Recorder 2012; Deputy High Court Judge 2023; Vice Chair of the Bar Council 2024; Chair of the Bar Council 2025, making her the first Black person and first person of colour and the first specialist family practitioner for 35 years to assume the role.
John Mortimer - Creator of ‘Rumpole of the Bailey’
Bio
Sir John Clifford Mortimer CBE (1923-2009). Adm IT 1941; Call 1948; Bencher 1975; QC 1996. Author and playwright. Creator of ‘Rumpole of the Bailey’.
Beau Nash - Dandy, leader of fashion and Master of Ceremonies
Bio
Born Richard Nash (1674 – 1761), Adm IT 1693. Dandy, leader of fashion and Master of Ceremonies at the spa town of Bath.
Image Source: Own photo of frontispiece in book “Bath Under Beau Nash”, by Lewis Melville, London 1907. Frontispiece is labelled ‘BEAU NASH. From a print in the collection of J. F. Meehan, Esq’
Jawaharlal Nehru - First Prime Minister of India
Bio
Nehru, Jawaharlal (1889-1964). Adm IT 1909; Call 1912.
First Prime Minister of India.
William Paca - Signed the Declaration of American Independence
Bio
(1740-99). Adm IT 1762; called to bar of Maryland, USA ,1764.
Politician. Signed the Declaration of American Independence.
Maryland state senator; Chief Judge of Supreme Court, Maryland; Governor of Maryland 1782-86; delegate to State convention which ratifies the US constitution 1788; US judge 1789-99.
William Petyt - Barrister and writer
Bio
(1636-1707) (1640/1 – 1707). Adm IT 1664; Call 1670; Treasurer 1701. Barrister, writer. For may years Keeper of the Records in the Tower. He is buried in the Temple Church
HRH The Prince Philip - Royal Treasurer 1961
Bio
HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM GBE (1921-2021). Royal Bencher 1954; Royal Treasurer 1961.
George Phillippo - Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong
Bio
Sir George Phillippo (1833-1914). Adm IT 1859; Call 1862.
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong 1882-1888.
R - S
Cyril Radcliffe - British lawyer and Law Lord, known for his role in the partition of British India
Bio
1st Viscount Radcliffe, GBE, PC, QC, FBA (1899-1977). Adm IT 1930; Call 1924.
British lawyer and Law Lord best known for his role in the partition of British India. He served as the first chancellor of the University of Warwick from its foundation in 1965 to 1977.
Image: Cyril John Radcliffe, 1st Viscount Radcliffe by Walter Stoneman https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw185113/
Tuanku Abdul Rahman - First King of Malaysia
Bio
(1895-1960). Adm IT 1925; Call 1928.
Founding Father and First King of Malaysia.
Tunku Abdul Rahman - Founding father and first Prime Minster of Malaysia
Bio
(1903-90). Adm IT 1924; Call 1949; Bencher 1970.
Founding father and first Prime Minster of Malaysia.
Peter Rawlinson - Former Solicitor General & Attorney General
Bio
The Rt Hon The Lord Rawlinson of Ewell QC (1919 – 2006). Adm IT 1944; Call 1946. Solicitor General 1962–1964, Attorney General for England and Wales 1970–1974 and for Northern Ireland (1972–1974), barrister, Conservative politician.
Robert Reed - President of the Supreme Court
Bio
The Rt Hon Lord Reed. Adm IT 1990; Call 1991; Bencher 2012. Admitted to Faculty of Advocates, 1983; QC (Scot.) 1995; Advocate Depute, 1996-98; a Senator of the Coll. of Justice in Scotland, 1998-2012; a Judge of the Outer House of the Court of Session, 1998-2008; Principal Commercial Judge, 2006-08; Mem., Inner House, 2008-12; ad hoc Judge, European Court of Human Rights, 1999-; a non-perm. Judge, Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, 2017-; a Justice, since 2012, and President, since 2020, Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (Deputy President, 2018-20).
Wasim Sajjad - Twice Served as the acting President of Pakistan
Bio
(1941 – ). Adm IT 1964; Call 1978. Pakistani Conservative politician, statesman, lawyer and political theorist. Served as the acting President of Pakistan for two non-consecutive terms, 2 December 1997 – 1 January 1998 and 18 July 1993 – 14 November 1993, and as the Chairman of the Senate 1988 – 1999.
See Chye Hong - Second woman to be called to the Hong Kong Bar
Bio
(aka Lucy See, later Mrs Lucy Chen, 1908-c.1990?) Adm IT 1926; Call 1930. Second woman to be called to the Hong Kong Bar
Kobina Sekeyi - Nationalist lawyer, politician and writer
Bio
(1892-1956). Adm IT 1913; Call 1918. Nationalist lawyer, politician and writer; author of Anglo-Fante the first English language novel written on the Cape Coast.
Evelyn Sharp - First woman Permanent Secretary
Bio
Later GBE, Baroness Sharp of Hornsey (1903-1985). Adm IT 1927; not called. First woman Permanent Secretary.
Victoria Sharp - First female President of the Queen’s Bench Division
Bio
The Rt Hon Dame Victoria Sharp DBE. Adm IT 1978; Call 1979; Bencher 2009; QC 2001; a Recorder, 1998–2008; a Judge of the High Ct of Justice, QBD, 2009–13; a Presiding Judge, Western Circuit, 2012–13. A Lady Justice of Appeal 2013-19; President, Queen’s Bench Division, since 2019 (Vice-President, 2016–19); Deputy Head of Criminal Justice, since 2020.
Ingrid Simler - First female President of the Employment Appeal Tribunal
Bio
The Rt Hon Lady Justice Simler DBE. Adm IT 1984; Call 1987; Bencher 2008.
Recorder, 2002-13; Jun. Counsel to IR, 2002-06; QC 2006; a Dep. High Ct Judge, 2010-13; a Judge of the High Ct of Justice, QBD, 2013-19; a Lady Justice of Appeal 2019-23; Justice of the Supreme Court 2023-.
Tunji Sowande - First Black head of chambers; first Black deputy circuit judge
Bio
(1912-1996) Adm IT 1952; Call 1956; Bencher 1986.
First Black person to gain tenancy; first Black head of Chambers; first Black Deputy Circuit Judge
Bram Stoker - Author, novelist, creator of Dracula
Bio
Abraham (or Bram) Stoker (1848-1912). Adm IT 1886; Call 1890.
Drama critic, author, novelist, creator of Dracula
Jack Straw - Lord Chancellor Secretary of State for Justice (2007-2010)
Bio
John (Jack) Straw (1946-). Adm IT 1965; Call 1972; PC 1997; Bencher 1997; MP 1979- 2015 ; Home Sec. 1997-2001; Foreign Sec. 2001-2006; Leader of HoC 2006-2007; Lord Chancellor Secretary of State for Justice 2007-2010
T - Z
A J P Taylor - Historian
Bio
Alan John Percivale Taylor FBA (1906-90). Adm IT 1925. Historian
Peter Taylor - Lord Chief Justice of England 1992-96
Bio
Baron Taylor of Gosforth (1930-1997). Adm IT; Call 1954; Bencher 1975; Lord Chief Justice of England 1992-96.
Leslie Thomas - First black Gresham College Professor of Law
Bio
Professor Leslie Thomas KC. Adm IT 1987; Call 1988; Bencher 2015. Public law and human rights barrister, former joint head of chambers, Garden Court; member, Bar Standards Board; QC, 2014; Gresham College Professor of Law, 2020
Shyamji Krishna Varma - Indian revolutionary fighter
Bio
(1857-1930). Adm IT 1879; Call 1884; Disbarred 1909; Reinstated 2015.
Indian revolutionary fighter, lawyer and journalist who founded the Indian Home Rule Society, India House and the Indian Sociologist in London
Helmuth James von Moltke - International lawyer
Bio
Count Helmuth James von Moltke (1907 – 1945). Adm IT 1935; Call 1938.
International lawyer. Advised German High Command. Executed by Adolf Hitler 1945
Ivy Williams - First woman to be called to the Bar of England and Wales
Bio
Dr Ivy Williams. Adm IT 1920; Call 1922. First woman to be called to the Bar of England and Wales; Academic, taught Law at St. Anne’s College, Oxford 1920-45
Thomas Willing - American merchant and politician
Bio
(1731-1821). Adm IT 1748.
American merchant and politician. Judge of Supreme Court, Pennsylvania. Established first chartered bank in USA and acted as its first president
Leonard Woodley - First QC in Britain of Afro-Caribbean heritage
Bio
(1927-2020). Adm IT 1960; Call; 1963; Bencher 1990. First person in Britain of Afro-Caribbean heritage to become a QC; Recorder of the Crown Court.
Endowed Leonard Woodley scholarship at The Inner Temple with a view to promoting greater diversity at the Bar.
Photo credit: @ABLWM/Twitter
Harry Woolf - Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (2000-2005)
Bio
The Rt Hon The Lord Woolf CH FBA (1933-). Adm IT 1951; Call 1955; QC; Lord Justice of Appeal 1986; Law Lord 1992; Master of the Rolls (1996-2000); Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (2000-2005)
Yong Pung How - Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Singapore
Bio
(1926-2020). Adm IT 1946; Call 1951. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Singapore (1990-2006)
