Faculty charity event marks Margaret Kidd centenary
A drinks reception to celebrate the achievements of Dame Margaret Kidd KC, along with other female members of the Scottish bar, will be hosted by the Faculty of Advocates in Parliament Hall later this month, in aid of two diversity-supporting charities.
The event, on Thursday 22 June, will see the unveiling of a new image of Margaret Kidd, the first woman to call as an advocate in Scotland, to mark the centenary of her calling in 1923. In 1926, she became the first woman to appear in an appeal in the House of Lords; in 1948, she became the first woman in the United Kingdom to take silk; and as Keeper of the Library from 1956 to 1969, she was also Faculty’s first female office bearer.
Funds raised through ticket sales for the reception will go to the LawScot Foundation, which supports academically talented students from less-advantaged backgrounds in Scotland through their legal education, and to Womankind Worldwide, which supports women’s rights organisations.
Guests from across the justice sector will attend, along with members of Dame Margaret's family. Faculty members, solicitors, law students, academics and any others working in the legal sector are welcome.
Laura Dunlop KC will speak at the reception, titled "Women of Faculty: from 0 to 121 in 100 years", along with Ann Inglis, who called in 1975, and Emma Boffey, who called last year. The event attracts 0.5 hours' CPD.
Ms Dunlop said: "Dame Margaret Kidd was a true trailblazer and her many achievements played a significant role in carving out a career path for other women wanting to join and flourish at the bar. Today there are 121 practising female members of the Faculty of Advocates, all of whom make significant contributions to the promotion of access to justice in Scotland and beyond. This reception will celebrate all of them."
Drinks and canapes will be served from 5.30pm at the reception, which takes place in Parliament Hall, Parliament House, Edinburgh. Tickets at £20 per person can be booked here.