Ivy Williams
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ivy Williams was the first woman to be called to the English bar.
She was born in Newton Abbot
and educated privately. By 1903 she had completed all her law examinations, but was prevented by the prevailing regulations concerning the qualification of women at Oxford
from matriculating or receiving her BA
, MA
and BCL
until the regulations were reformed in 1920. In 1921 she was called to the bar at the Inner Temple
, and thus became the first woman barrister in England.
In 1923 she became the first woman to be awarded the degree of DCL (Doctor of Civil Law)
in Oxford for her published work, The Sources of Law in the Swiss Civil Code. In 1956 she was elected an Honorary Fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford.
She was born in Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parish in the Teignbridge District of Devon, England on the River Teign, with a population of 23,580....
and educated privately. By 1903 she had completed all her law examinations, but was prevented by the prevailing regulations concerning the qualification of women at Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
from matriculating or receiving her BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, MA
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
and BCL
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
until the regulations were reformed in 1920. In 1921 she was called to the bar at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, and thus became the first woman barrister in England.
In 1923 she became the first woman to be awarded the degree of DCL (Doctor of Civil Law)
Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law is a degree offered by some universities, such as the University of Oxford, instead of the more common Doctor of Laws degrees....
in Oxford for her published work, The Sources of Law in the Swiss Civil Code. In 1956 she was elected an Honorary Fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford.