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Podcast: First 100 Years

Podcast Trailer: 100 years of women in law 🎧


First 100 Years is a ground-breaking project recording the history of women in law since 1919. Listen to the full series right here on our site.

Podcast Trailer: 100 years of women in law 🎧



This year marks the centenary of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 which paved the way for women to become lawyers in the UK. To mark the year, we have collaborated with The First 100 Years Project and Goldman Sachs to create a podcast series dedicated to the journeys of women in law.

The 10-part series will chart the history of women in legal professions and will discuss key themes including gender stereotypes, the work/life balance and diversity.

You can listen to our podcasts right here on our site and on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

All episodes

Episode Eight | The Eighth Decade: 1989 – 1999 🎧

The 1990’s saw the end of the economic boom and in the recession that followed career prospects in the legal sector became more uncertain for solicitors, both at the junior and senior end. Throughout the decade women began to play a greater role in public life.

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Episode Seven | The Seventh Decade: 1979 – 1989 🎧

The 1980s were characterised by the premiership of Margaret Thatcher as the UK’s first woman Prime Minister.

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Episode Six | The Sixth Decade: 1969 – 1979 🎧

Discussing discrimination and the impact of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. What was the experience of discrimination in the professions? To what extent did things change following the passing of the Act? Did the earlier Equal Pay Act 1970 have an impact for women trying to forge a career in law? 

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Episode Five | The Fifth Decade: 1959 – 1969 🎧

The 1960’s was a time of profound social change. The abolition of capital punishment, legalisation of homosexuality and abortion, the introduction of the contraceptive pill, and the Married Women’s Property Act affected women's rights in everyday life.

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Episode Four | Hostile Culture 🎧

Join host Lucinda Acland and guests for a discussion of the 1950s, characterised by a post-war growing economy and technological advances.

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Episode Three | The Third Decade: 1939 – 1949 🎧

Join host Lucinda Acland and guests for a discussion of the 1940s, the impact of World War Two in the perception of women in the world of work and for women in the legal profession

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Episode Two | The Second Decade: 1929 – 1939 🎧

Join host Lucinda Acland and guests for a discussion of the first few pioneering female lawyers, and their experiences during the early years of women being allowed to practice law.

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About this podcast

This podcast was created in collaboration with First 100 Years Project and Goldman Sachs.

First 100 Years is a ground-breaking project recording the history of women in law since 1919. In 2019, the project will celebrate the centenary of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 which paved the way for women to become lawyers for the first time.

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