The Inns of Court Alliance for Women (ICAW)
(Formerly Temple Women's Forum)
The Co-Convenors are:
Ruth Kirby KC (Middle Temple)
The Hon Mrs Justice Lieven DBE (Gray’s Inn)
The Hon Mrs Justice Eady (Inner Temple)
Brie Stevens-Hoare KC (Lincoln’s Inn)
The Inns of Court Alliance for Women exists to encourage and support women throughout their careers, and to increase retention and diversity within the profession. The ICAW recognises the challenges and barriers to career progression and wellbeing faced by women in the law, and the intersectional disadvantage faced by women from non-white ethnic backgrounds and by women with disabilities.
The ICAW commits to:
- Providing a safe forum where issues facing women in the profession can be discussed to foster a culture of mutual support
- Supporting the Inns’ commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, and social mobility
- Taking an intersectional approach to talks and events to ensure the voices of women facing inequality are heard
- Promoting initiatives across the four Inns to support access, retention, and progression of women in the profession
Please contact Laura Hacon, the Inn's Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator, for further information about ICAW.
Background Information
The original forum was established in 2011 by Professor Dawn Oliver, then Treasurer of Middle Temple, and subsequently developed into a joint initiative as The Temple Women’s Forum by Middle Temple and The Inner Temple in 2012/13. Its focus was identifying key issues contributing to many women’s decision to leave the profession in the prime of their careers.
In December 2021, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Ivy Williams, the first woman to be called to the Bar, it was agreed that the Forum should become an entity of the four Inns under the new title of The Inns of Court Alliance for Women (ICAW). Male allies are most welcome.