Isle of Man milestone celebrated

Clare Faulds guest of honour at celebratory lunch

Half a century after the first woman was called to the Manx Bar, the Isle of Man Law Society has celebrated the occasion with an official lunch.

At an event attended by members of the Island’s Judiciary, His Majesty’s Attorney General and Lady Lorimer, alongside many of the Island’s legal professionals, the guest of honour was Clare Faulds.

She became the Island’s first female advocate in 1973 and, in 1996, the first female Manx advocate to be commissioned as a judge and one of the first qualified mediators locally.

Her career has been described as far more than a professional milestone, but an achievement which has inspired generations that have followed, both opening the door to other women entering the legal profession and showing that gender is no bar to being a successful lawyer in the Island.

Clare told guests the door was not closed but she was merely the first to walk through it. 

However, she was acknowledged as a figure who showed other women that the Manx legal profession was open and that gender was no obstacle to being a successful lawyer.

Reflecting on 50 years ago, the statement made by Clare when she was commissioned as the first female Manx Advocate was described as ‘trailblazing’ & ‘inspired’.

Following her, were Jackie Karran and Sharon Roberts who also helped push the profession forward with achieving gender equality.

Sharon was the first female President of the Isle of Man Law Society, serving between 2009 and 2011, and also the first Manx female advocate to be appointed as a permanent deemster.

Since Sharon took up the presidency of the Isle of Man Law Society, more women have held the position than men.

Speaking at the lunch, President of the Law Society, Vicki Unsworth, said: ‘The Isle of Man was some 50 years behind England and Wales, whose first female Barrister and Solicitors were commissioned in 1922. 

"Happily, however, the Manx profession has now overtaken the English profession in achieving gender equality’.

Female advocates now make up 52 percent of the Society's membership.