The Inns of Court Alliance for Women exists to encourage and support women throughout their careers, and to increase retention and diversity within the profession. The ICAW recognises the challenges and barriers to career progression and wellbeing faced by women in the law, and the intersectional disadvantage faced by women from non-white ethnic backgrounds and by women with disabilities.
The Inns of Court Alliance for Women (ICAW) Co-Convenors are:
The Hon Mrs Justice Lieven DBE (Gray’s Inn)
Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC (The Inner Temple)
Ruth Kirby KC (Middle Temple)
Brie Stevens-Hoare KC (Lincoln’s Inn)
The ICAW commits to:
Originally established in 2011 by Professor Dawn Oliver, then Treasurer of Middle Temple, and subsequently developed into a joint initiative as The Temple Women’s Forum by Middle Temple and The Inner Temple in 2012/2013, with Co-Convenors Her Honour Judge Deborah Taylor and Rachel Langdale KC. The forum worked to identify key issues contributing to the decision by many women to leave the profession in the prime of their careers. In December 2021, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the first woman to be called to the Bar, Ivy Williams, it was agreed between the Inns of Court that the forum should become an entity of the four Inns under the new title of The Inns of Court Alliance for Women (ICAW). Male allies are welcomed and encouraged to support and participate in initiatives organised by the ICAW.
Listing support and mentoring, research and women’s groups
Temple Women’s Forum North was created in 2013, in Leeds, by Taryn Lee QC and Professor Iyiola Solanke, both Masters of the Bench of The Inner Temple, to extend the aims of the Temple Women’s Forum to legal professionals in the North.
Toolkit to assist chambers in using income data to identify and address disparities in distribution of work
Monitoring and representing the interests of women at the Bar
A Hub for aspiring and practising women barristers, for entering, building and progressing their career at the Bar
Providing an important insight into the experiences of women in the law and what needs to be done to achieve greater equality
Members comprise of holders of posts at all levels of the judiciary
…better representation and advancement of women barristers on the Western Circuit
Setting out to connect and promote professional women across the criminal justice sector
iframe
iframe
