Nominations open for Inspirational Women in Law Award

The First 100 Years, a ground-breaking history project charting the journey of women in law, is on the search for women lawyers who are driving much-needed change in the legal sector to make gender equality a reality.

Nominations for the second Inspirational Women in Law Award are now open as the project seeks to identify the trailblazers of the profession, in the lead up to the centenary of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919, which paved the way for women to practise law.

The award winners' stories will become part of the First 100 Years' digital museum of 100 videos, under a special chapter celebrating the next generation of game changers in the legal sector.

Keily Blair, winner of the inaugural award, said it was important to promote the advancement of women in the legal sector and beyond.

'In 2016, the path to entry into the legal profession for women is well-trodden,' said Blair who is a director at PricewaterhouseCoopers. 'However, the outdated business and career models which hold back the progression of women in the law must be challenged.'

Nominations for the award is open to all women who meet the following criteria:

'¢ A legal professional, for example, a practicing lawyer or judiciary member, including but not limited to CMA magistrates, members of CILEX or the Institute of Paralegals, Institute of Barristers Clerks, BILLE, Chartered Institution of Legal Librarians, and in-house legal;

'¢ Less than ten years' experience as a legal professional; and

'¢ Work in the United Kingdom.

Entry information

Nominations may be made via the First 100 Years website by 31 August 2017.

Nominees will then be contacted by email and invited to apply for the award. The two-part application comprises:

'¢ A short proposal on what the applicant would do, if she won, to help the First 100 Years project (50-100 words); and

'¢ A short essay on 'How can women shape the future of the legal industry?' (500-1000 words).

The deadline for completion is 18 September 2017.

What will the winner receive?

The winner will have her story recorded for the First 100 Years digital museum, alongside other legal trailblazers such as the incoming president of the Supreme Court, Baroness Hale, and shadow attorney general Baroness Chakrabarti. The digital museum will be donated to the British Library in 2019.

The winner will also become a spokesperson for the project as a First 100 Years champion, and have access to exclusive networking and other events.

Details of the award ceremony will be announced at a later date.