Lee Lecture: Reflections of a Lady Law Lord

Lady Hale will look back on her long career in the law and ask whether, as she argues in her most recent book, With the Law on Our Side, the law really is on our side.

Lady Hale retired as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, the most senior Judge in the United Kingdom, in January 2020. Before becoming a Judge, she had a varied career: she was an academic lawyer at the University of Manchester, qualified and practised as a barrister, and became the first female member of the Law Commission, where she led successful projects in Family Law and Mental Capacity Law.

She was appointed a High Court Judge in 1994, was promoted to the Court of Appeal in 1999, and in 2004 became the first and only woman ‘Law Lord’ in the House of Lords, then the apex court for the whole United Kingdom. In 2009, the Law Lords were translated into the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. She became its Deputy President in 2013 and its first woman President in 2017.

In retirement she has spent her time in good works, events and writing – her memoir, Spiderwoman - A Life, (2021), With the Law on Our Side (2025), and Do We Have a Right to Die? (Forthcoming 2026). She holds a number of honorary academic appointments and is Visitor of her alma mater, Girton College, Cambridge.

Taking place annually, the Lee Seng Tee Distinguished Lectures bring leading academics and international figures to Wolfson. It was endowed by Dr Lee Seng Tee in 2005 on the occasion of the College’s 40th anniversary and is a major event in the academic year at Wolfson.

This event is open to all and is free to attend. Booking is essential.

There will be a drinks reception following the lecture in the Lee Hall foyer, which will run until 19.30.

This event will take place in the Lee Hall which has step-free access and an accessible toilet.

If you have any questions, please contact our events team - [email protected]

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