Helena Normanton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Helena Florence Normanton (December 14, 1882 - October 14, 1957) was the first woman to practise as a barrister in the UK. In 1922 she was called to the Bar of England and Wales at the Middle Temple, following the example set by Ivy Williams earlier that year.

She went on to become the first woman to lead the prosecution in a murder trial, to conduct a trial in America and to represent cases at the High Court and the Old Bailey.

In 1949, along with Rose Heilbron, she became one of the first women King's Counsel at the English Bar.

Normanton was also the first married woman in the UK to have a passport in her maiden name, believing that men and women should keep their money and property separately and she campaigned to this end.

[edit] References

• Summary biography (AIM25 website)
• The Women's Library, which holds the Papers of Helena Normanton