Before women could formally practise as lawyers, let alone sit as magistrates or judges, two women were appointed as judges in the Industrial Court. In this episode, Professor Erika Rackley discusses how this happened, as well as women’s representation on our courts and what - if anything - this has to do with Hans Christian Andersen’s 'Little Mermaid'.

Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

The 1918 General Election was the first time that women could be elected to parliament. But it would be another 10 years until women could vote on the same terms as men. In this episode we speak to Dr Mari Takayanagi, historian and senior archivist at the Parliamentary Archives, about the later years of the suffrage campaigns and the first women MPs.

Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

In 1920, women were finally able to sit alongside men in the jury box. But why had it taken so long for women to sit as members of a jury? And why is this such an important milestone in women’s history? In this episode, we speak to Dr Kay Crosby about the first women jurors in the English courts.

Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

The Criminal Law Amendment Act 1922 sought to address the sexual exploitation of children. So how did it end up almost criminalising sexual activity between women? In this episode, we speak to Professor Caroline Derry about the role of criminal law in recognising and silencing lesbianism, and what, if anything, this has to do with Queen Victoria.

Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Are women's toilets a feminist issue? In this episode, we speak to Eduardo Reyes, commissioning and features editor at the Law Society Gazette, about the Law Society's installation of women’s lavatories in 1923. We discuss what this tells us about how institutions responded to early women solicitors, and the importance of male allies in feminist campaigning.

Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Join Erika Rackley and Sharon Thompson as they talk to leading experts about key legal landmarks for women and why they still matter today.

Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0