Law Society’s Gazette, April 1961

Notes of the month – by the editor

A revolution in Chancery Lane

The profession was slow to admit women to its ranks, and has been slower still to admit them to the Society’s Hall.

This was so skilfully built 125 years ago as an exclusively male stronghold (and skilfully added to in the meanwhile) that it has needed considerable structural alterations, now that the decision has been taken to admit lady guests, to provide the necessary accommodation…

The new accommodation will be opened for the first time on 1 May and it will be available for the use of lady members, as well as lady guests of both men and lady members.

The apparent complexity of that statement is nothing to the complications which have arisen over the inequality of treatment of the sexes since lady members first appeared after the 1914-18 war.

Contrary to what usually has happened, where women have not been given equal rights with men, the advantage appears to have been in this instance with the former.

Thus, through the exclusion of lady guests, but not of men guests, lady members have, over the past 40 years, been able to bring their husbands to lunch at the Society’s Hall, whereas men members have not been able to bring their wives.

Neither have been able to bring their sisters; both have been able to bring their brothers.

There are several other permutations of this anomalous arrangement which, since it is now a matter of history, I will not go into.

It is expected that for a time there may be a rush of ladies to see inside the walls of the once Forbidden City, and I have been asked to say that tables must be booked for lunch in the ladies’ dining room.

In addition to a dining room, the new accommodation includes a bar, lounge, powder room and cloak room.

Law Society’s Gazette, April 1951

Round about the legal world – by the lay gazeteer

One farmer (stiff built)

A correspondent who does me the honour of reading this leisurely feature sends me a delightful letter which he received from a farmer for whom he is acting, and to whom he sent a request for ‘his Christian name and description’. Here it is:

Dear Sir

With reference to your letter of the 26th, I have only one Christian name, Sidney. I am 5 ft. 7 in. in height (stiff built).13 stone weight. Age 50 years. Grey hair.Yours truly,

One wishes sometimes – at least the layman does – that a little more of the picturesque could be introduced into legal documents, and I for one am all in favour of the correspondent’s attitude towards such matters.

It gives me pleasure to know that he is stiff built, as surely a farmer ought to be, and to have in so few words a complete picture of him.