Former Supreme Court president Baroness Hale given honorary title by University of Chichester

Former Supreme Court president Baroness Hale given honorary title by University of Chichester

 

• Baroness Hale DBE made Doctor of Law by University of Chichester
• Campaigner for greater equality across judiciary has overseen biggest cases in British legal history – including 2019 prorogation of Parliament over Brexit
• Former president of Supreme Court collected honorary doctorate alongside first cohort of law students graduating from University

 

THE first woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court Lady Hale has been recognised for her lifetime achievements at the forefront of the British legal system.

 

Baroness Brenda Hale of Richmond DBE, who has long campaigned for greater equality and diversity across the judiciary, was given an honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Chichester.

 

 Baroness Hale DBE made Doctor of Law by University of Chichester

 

The former judge has presided over some of the biggest cases in British legal history – making headlines in 2019 after the Supreme Court came into conflict with the government over its prorogation of Parliament.

 

Her honorary award was presented at Chichester’s graduation, where she addressed nearly 1,000 students who were collecting degrees at the ceremony.

 

Baroness Hale, who herself attended university in 1963 shortly after the UK appointed its first female judge, said: “The great thing about a university education is that it gives us the tools of curiosity. I have many happy memories of the University of Chichester when I was last here in 2020, and it’s wonderful to be graduating with you all.

 

“There wasn’t a lot of women role models at the time I was graduating in the 1960s – if I can give some advice it’s to make sure you follow something you enjoy most in your degree because, if you don’t, you won’t be the best person you can be.”

 

Lady Hale became the first woman appointed to the Law Commission in the 1980s, and was a driving force behind legal rulings to protect children with their own legal rights.

 

Senior lecturer Dr Amy Elkington, who leads the University’s Law degrees, said: “While Baroness Hale has now hung up her judicial robes, she continues to work to promote the ideals of justice and fairness. We express our gratitude for the inspiration that Baroness Hale has provided for current and future generations of legal students and professionals and for her ongoing contribution to legal reform, the rule of law and equality in the legal system.”

 

 Baroness Hale of Richmond DBE - alongside University's head of law Dr Amy Elkington - made headlines in 2019 for prorogation of Parliament over Brexit

 

Students from the University's LLB (Hons) Law degree were among the graduates watching Lady Hale speak.

 

3. Law students celebrated collecting their degree alongside the Supreme Court judge at Chichester's graduation

 

Among them was aspiring lawyer Elisa Green who has already secured a job as a family paralegal at solicitors Footner and Ewing LLP, while working towards applying for the Bar.

 

Speaking on the president’s celebrated words from her autobiography about the challenges of being a woman in law, Elisa said: “Lady Hale had an open and honest conversation about her struggles with imposter syndrome, and I feel this resonates with many people across the legal industry especially those at a junior level. I know I have also felt these imposter moments, and it was refreshing to hear that even the former president of the UK’s Supreme Court resonates with this.”

 

Baroness Hale’s historic law achievements are outlined in her Spider Woman autobiography, available at www.penguin.co.uk/books/442540/spider-woman-by-hale-lady.

 

For more about the University of Chichester’s LLB (Hons) Law degree go to www.chi.ac.uk/law