Women to blame for rise in injunctions, says leading lawyer – Daily Telegraph

“Baroness Deech, one of Britain’s leading lawyers, says she is ashamed of the ‘kiss and tell women’ at the centre of most superinjunctions.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 26th April 2011

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

TUC warns against impact of employment law reforms – Law Society’s Gazette

“Government plans for reform of employment tribunals will discriminate against black and minority ethnic groups, disabled people, women, and young workers, according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC).”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 19th April 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law Society report reveals partner promotions still fail to reflect rising tide of female lawyers – Legal Week

“The latest annual statistical report from The Law Society has confirmed the extent to which law firms have so far failed to react to the increase in women in the profession, with the number of female solicitors nearly doubling over the last 10 years.”

Full story

Legal Week, 14th April 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

Employment law changes could ‘disproportionately affect women’ – Law Society’s Gazette

“Changes to employment laws announced in last week’s budget are encouraging for small employers but could disproportionately affect women, solicitors have warned.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 30th March 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

We need a more diverse supreme court – The Guardian

“Just two weeks after it was reported that women in the legal professions are still finding it difficult to break through the glass ceiling, here comes another setback. Though an official announcement has yet to be made, it seems that the next two appointments to the supreme court will be men.”

Full story

The Guardian, 29th March 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Women lawyers believe they are paid less than male peers – Law Society’s Gazette

“Most women lawyers believe their male colleagues earn more than they do, research has suggested.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 10th March 2011

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

My legal hero: Dr Ivy Williams – The Guardian

“Dr Ivy Williams was a true pioneer – the first woman to be called to the bar and the first to teach law at an English university.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th February 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Fawcett Society loses court challenge to legality of budget – The Guardian

“The Fawcett Society has been refused permission to challenge the legality of the government’s emergency budget.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High court judge to rule if coalition’s budget is biased against women – The Guardian

“A high court challenge aimed at overturning the government’s emergency, summer budget is due to be heard today.”

Full story

The Guardian, 6th December 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sentence review to slash numbers of women in jail – The Independent

“Ministers plan to slash the number of women sent to prison amid complaints that women behind bars are exposed to increased risks of mental illness, self-harm and even suicide.”

Full story

The Independent, 28th November 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

How feminism could improve judicial decision-making – The Guardian

“Can judges be feminists? Should judges be feminists? On one view the answer is easy: no. We don’t want our judges to be activists. We don’t want them to promote their own political agendas. We want them to do their job. We want them to apply the law.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th November 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Related link: Feminist Judgments Project

The Fawcett Society takes the cuts to court – The Guardian

“When feminist campaigners saw a palpable threat to women in the coalition government’s spending plans, with the help of Yvette Cooper’s calculations they launched the first ever legal challenge to the budget.”

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The case for diversity: legal profession’s white, male legacy persists – The Guardian

“This week saw the release of the Equality and Human Rights Commission report entitled How Fair is Britain. Today (13 October), at a high-level conference at Westminster University, original research examining structural inequalities in the legal services sector [pdf] will be unveiled.”

Full story

The Guardian, 13th October 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal profession ‘inherently masculine’, says report for LSB – Law Society’s Gazette

“Stereotyping and bias are preventing women and black and minority ethnic (BME) solicitors from furthering their careers, a report funded by the Legal Services Board has found.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 7th October 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judges told: ‘be more lenient to women criminals’ – Daily Telegraph

“Female criminals are more likely to have mental health or educational difficulties and to have parenting responsibilities, while a lower proportion will have committed violent crimes than men, according to new guidelines. Judges ought to ‘bear these matters in mind’ when passing sentence, according to the Equal Treatment Bench Book, published by the Judicial Studies Board (JSB).”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 11th September 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

‘Youngest’ female double murderer jailed – BBC News

“The girl thought to be Britain’s youngest female double murderer has been jailed for a minimum of 14 years. Lorraine Thorpe, now 16, of Clapgate Lane, Ipswich, was found guilty in August of murdering her father Desmond Thorpe and a woman called Rosalyn Hunt.”

Full story

BBC News, 7th September 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

An MP’s posturing talk of a burqa ban – The Guardian

“Philip Hollobone, the Tory MP for Kettering, has told the media that he won’t meet with constituents who wear a burqa or niqab. Last week Liberty wrote to him pointing out that, as the burqa and niqab are a form of dress exclusively associated with Muslim women, this will amount to direct religious discrimination. By treating Muslim women less favourably than he would treat people of other religions he is disregarding the Equality Act 2006.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Minister says Burka ban would be ‘un-British’ – The Independent

“Banning the wearing of burkas in public would be ‘rather un-British’, the Immigration Minister said today as he attacked efforts to make it illegal in this country.”

Full story

The Independent, 18th July 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Protests as anonymity plan for rape defendants is confirmed – The Guardian

“The government provoked protests from both sides of the Commons today after a minister confirmed plans to grant rape defendants pre-charge anonymity.”

Full story

The Guardian, 8th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

What isn’t wrong with Sharia law? – The Guardian

“To safeguard our rights there must be one law for all and no religious courts.”

Full story

The Guardian, 5th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tory MP proposes law to ban wearing burkas – The Independent

“A Conservative politician is seeking to make it a criminal offence to wear a burka in public. Philip Hollobone, the MP for Kettering, was the subject of a complaint to police from the Northamptonshire Race Equality Council five months ago because of remarks he made about burkas.”

Full story

The Independent, 1st July 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Annual board elections in new code for top companies – BBC News

“Plans for directors to submit to an annual shareholder vote form part of an overhaul of the code of conduct for the UK’s top 350 listed companies.”

Full story

BBC News, 27th May 2010

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Draft law opens way for first women bishops by 2014 – The Sunday Times

“The Church of England has paved the way for ordination of its first women bishops with new legislation that it hopes will prevent Anglicans splitting over the issue.”

Full story

The Sunday Times, 9th May 2010

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Court allows judicial review over Yarl’s Wood detention – The Guardian

“Lawyers have been granted permission to challenge the government’s detention policy, which they claim amounts to ‘cruel, inhumane and degrading’ treatment of women and children.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Legal challenge over Yarl’s Wood women – The Guardian

“Lawyers are due to launch a legal challenge today on behalf of four women held at Yarl’s Wood detention centre, claiming their incarceration amounts to ‘cruel, inhumane and degrading’ treatment that breaches their human rights.”

Full story

The Guardian, 1st March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High numbers of women and solicitors appointed to judicial posts – Law Society’s Gazette

“More than half the candidates selected in the last recruitment round for fee-paid employment tribunal judge positions were women, statistics have shown, while three-quarters of selected candidates were solicitors.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th February 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

A fifth of female lawyers choose kids over careers – The Lawyer

“The pressure of motherhood is the reason that 20 per cent of all female departees decide to leave some of the UK’s top 50 firms.”

Full story

The Lawyer, 8th February 2010

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Record numbers of women held for violent crimes – The Independent

“Record numbers of women are being arrested for violent crimes, it was revealed today (28 January).”

Full story

The Independent, 28th January 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Treatment plan promised for women sex offenders – BBC News

“The government has pledged to develop its first-ever strategy for dealing with female sex offenders.”

Full story

BBC News, 14th December 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Women prison places reduced to fund community services – Ministry of Justice

“Vulnerable women offenders are to get more support in the community to turn away from crime.”

Full story

Ministry of Justice, 14th December 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

One-stop courts to help women confront abuse – The Times

“One-stop courts to help victims of domestic violence win legal redress are to be established across the country to encourage battered women to come forward and identify their abusers.”

Full story

The Times, 9th August 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Epidemic of self-harm sweeps women’s jails – The Independent

“The number of women deliberately harming themselves in prison has almost doubled in five years – despite repeated government promises to improve conditions in women’s jails.”

Full story

The Independent, 27th June 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Combat ban for female troops to be reviewed – The Independent

Britain’s female soldiers could soon battle enemy forces in face-to-face combat, if a ban on women serving in the most dangerous warfare roles is lifted for the first time.

Full story

The Independent, 25th May 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ending violence against women and girls – your voice counts – Home Office

“The largest ever cross-government public consultation to tackle violence against women and girls was launched today by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.”

Full story

Home Office, 9th March 2009

Source: www.homeoffice.gov.uk

Edwina Millward: first woman president of the Association of District Judges – Law Society’s Gazette

“For District Judge Edwina Millward, justice secretary Jack Straw’s announcement that the family courts are to be opened up to the media raises considerable concerns.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 12th February 2009

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Legal change: Abused women who kill could escape murder – Daily Telegraph

“Abused women who kill their partners in cold blood could escape a murder conviction under the biggest planned change in the law for a generation.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 13th January 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Fusty image and poor pay put women off being judges – The Times

“The judiciary is losing out on some of the best talent in the legal profession because the work of a High Court judge is perceived as fusty, old-fashioned and underpaid. ”

Full story

The Times, 8th January 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Delivering the government response to the Corston Report – Ministry of Justice

“The government’s one year progress report on its strategy for addressing the needs of women offenders, in response to Baroness Corston’s independent review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system.”

Full report

Ministry of Justice, 10th December 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Baroness Hale: new equality laws will not close gender gap – The Times

“Britain’s most senior woman judge gave warning last night that the Government’s proposed overhaul of equality laws would not close the pay or gender gap.”

Full story

The Times, 20th November 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Does judging still have appeal? – The Times

“It has been a good week for the cause of diversity among Britain’s judges. Just months ago one of only three of 36 Court of Appeal judges lamented the lack of women in senior judicial posts. In the past three years, Lady Justice Arden said, only one woman had been chosen for the High Court bench compared with 29 men.”

Full story

The Times, 9th October 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Women make breakthrough to High Court bench – The Times

“Women are finally breaking through the glass ceiling of senior judicial appointments.”

Full story

The Times, 7th October 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Why do women solicitors earn less than men? – Law Society’s Gazette

“When Fiona Fitzgerald, chair of the Association of Women Solicitors, was preparing to launch the joint campaign with the Law Society on equal pay, she first checked her own firm’s record.”

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 4th September 2008

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Police warn of rise in violence by women – The Guardian

“Violent women are stretching police resources, with increasing numbers being arrested, police have warned. The chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, Paul McKeever, called it a ‘new phenomenon’.”

Full story

The Guardian, 10th August 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Discussion paper on prison mother and baby units – Ministry of Justice

“Maria Eagle’s response to the Children’s Commissioner for England about the findings of his report ‘Prison Mother and Baby Units’.”

Full response

Ministry of Justice, 1st August

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Violent women: binge drinking culture fuels rise in attacks by women – Daily Telegraph

“The number of violent offences carried out by women has doubled in just five years, official figures show.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 31st July 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Women win landmark equal pay battle – The Times

“Tens of thousands of women working for local councils and health authorities won the right to higher wages today following a landmark Court of Appeal ruling on equal pay laws.”

Full story

The Times, 29th July 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Battered women: Change in murder law seeks to aid victims of domestic abuse – The Guardian

“Judges have expressed disappointment that the government will not announce this week plans to introduce American-style charges of first- and second-degree murder.”

Full story

The Guardian, 28th July 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Barristers are prima donnas in all sorts of different ways’ – The Times

“The first woman High Court judge in the Commercial Court made a crucial career decision as a schoolgirl in the 1960s, when she was surprised to hear Lord Scarman’s ‘dinosaur-like views’ on women barristers.”

Full story

The Times, 17th July 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Women lawyers and the City: where are they? – The Times

“Last month marked 793 years since Magna Carta was signed, a great step forward for the cause of liberty in Britain. Yet although there has been much progress over these eight centuries, there is one area of shame for lawyers like myself — that opportunities for high-flying women in our profession seem more suited to the 13th than the 21st century.”

Full story

The Times, 17th July 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

The Big Question: Are equality laws backfiring, with employers reluctant to hire women? – The Independent

“The head of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, Nicola Brewer, has just announced that recent and future improvements to maternity pay may, ironically, be backfiring on women by making employers wary of hiring and promoting them. The industrial neanderthal Sir Alan Sugar has added fuel to the fire by claiming recently that many employers bin the CVs of women of childbearing age without even considering their job applications.”

Full story

The Independent, 15th July 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Equality laws ‘are now holding women back’ – The Times

“The radical extension of maternity leave and parents’ rights is sabotaging women’s careers, according to the head of the new equalities watchdog.”

Full story

The Times, 14th July 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Pensioner wins citizen law change – BBC News

“The government is to change a loophole in the law after a 20-year campaign by a woman who was not allowed to pass on her Britishness to her daughter.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th July 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Progress with government’s response to Corston Report – Ministry of Justice

“Maria Eagle has made a statement on progress with the government’s response to Baroness Corston’s report of a Review of Women with Particular Vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice System.”

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 24th June 2008

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Church of England faces compensation bill over women bishops – Daily Telegraph

“The Church of England could face paying out millions of pounds in compensation to opponents of women bishops who quit their posts over the issue.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 16th June 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Address to the Association of Women Barristers’ Annual General Meeting – Speech by the Rt Hon Lady Justice Arden DBE

Address to the Association of Women Barristers’ Annual General Meeting (PDF)

Speech by the Rt Hon Lady Justice Arden DBE

Judiciary of England and Wales, 3rd June 2008

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk