Glasgow—Dentons and the Law Society of Scotland are supporting the University of Glasgow in organising a major conference to celebrate 100 years since the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919. The University is proud that the first female lawyer in the UK was a Glasgow University graduate. The conference, entitled 100 Voices for 100 Years, will take place in Glasgow on 15 April 2019.

The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 paved the way for women to become lawyers for the first time. The UK's first woman to qualify and practise as a lawyer was Glasgow-born Madge Easton Anderson, a graduate of Glasgow University's School of Law who began her career as an apprentice law agent at Dentons' legacy firm Maclay Murray & Spens. She then went on to become a partner at the first law firm to be run by women in the UK based in London.

The University is working with Dentons, the Law Society of Scotland and the First Hundred Years project – a ground-breaking history project (supported by the Law Society of England and Wales and the Bar Council) charting the journey of women in law since 1919 – to create an event which will celebrate Madge Easton Anderson and other women connected to the law in Scotland, while also raising awareness of the ongoing need to promote gender equality and diversity in the legal profession.

As part of the celebrations of the centenary, the University is also gathering the ‘voices’ of 100 women associated with the Law School to create a digital exhibition. The aim is to capture the voices of these women, their career journeys, and their hopes for the future in terms of equality.

Amanda Jones, Scotland-based partner and global women's advancement director at Dentons, said, "We're extremely proud of our connection with Madge. Supporting our women to achieve their potential is something Dentons takes very seriously. It is important for everyone to understand how the fight for women to enter the legal profession started and how far we've come in the past 100 years. However we recognise that there is still much to be done to ensure that the legal profession continues to develop to reflect a better balance of women at all levels in the profession.”

Maria Fletcher, senior law lecturer at the University of Glasgow, who is leading on the centenary celebrations, said, “Madge Easton Anderson is an important person for us to remember, both here in the School of Law and more widely in the legal profession. For me as a law lecturer, I most admire Madge for her sincere social conscience and from what I have learned about Madge’s character I think this would be what she would like to be remembered for, not the fact she had so many firsts in the legal profession. She has much to be admired not only as a real pioneer but as a wonderful inspiration for our students today. It seems only right and fitting that her legacy is remembered at her alma mater.”

Seonaid Stevenson, a research assistant on the project, said, “As a young female lawyer, I am constantly inspired by Madge Easton Anderson. I studied at the University where she studied and trained at the firm where she was an apprentice. I often reflect on how different our experiences must have been. Ms Anderson would have been the only woman in many rooms, while I am surrounded by intelligent and supportive women. I am proud that, 100 years later, we now have a 51% female profession in Scotland. We still face many challenges in terms of making our profession more equal, but Madge’s legacy reminds me that change can, and does, happen.”

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