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Discover›Law
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Elizabeth Lane
Judge

Elizabeth Lane

Famoose for

Becoming the first woman appointed to England’s High Court

County Court appointment · Inner Temple bencher

Born
9 August 1905
Birthplace
Bowdon
Died
17 June 1988

More people

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Elizabeth Lane

Elizabeth Lane entered law as an adult and advanced through civil practice to judicial office. Her appointments opened institutions that had previously excluded women from their senior ranks.

Early life

Education

Attended Malvern Girls’ College and later studied law alongside her husband rather than following a university route.

Career

  1. 1940

    Called to the bar

    Began practice on the Midland Circuit.

  2. 1950

    King’s Counsel

    Became one of England’s earliest women to take silk.

  3. 1965

    High Court

    Joined the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division.

Selected work

County Court appointment

Became its first woman judge.

Inner Temple bencher

Became the first female bencher of an Inn of Court.

Beyond work

Later life

Retired to Winchester in 1979, continuing occasional judicial work and writing an autobiography.

Sources & photo creditBiography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Additional biographical or achievement source ↗Additional biographical or achievement source ↗

Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.

Photo: Creator not stated; see image source. Source credit retained; reuse licence not established · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.