Tributes to Elizabeth Cruickshank

 TRIBUTES

Dame Fiona Woolf, former Law Society President

We all loved Elizabeth Cruickshank in the Association of Women Solicitors (as it then was). She had a quiet but very appealing integrity that would always find us the right thing to do as we emerged into a much-needed diversity and inclusion spotlight. She made us focus on the proud history of women in the law and also our international place, doing something that gave us great credibility – carrying out research and writing books and papers. She made friendships easily and her influence will have spread far and wide. For me, she provided a wonderful role model as I prepared to be Lord Mayor of London in 2013/14.

Lubna Shuja, Law Society president

I am sad to hear of the passing of Elizabeth Cruickshank. My thoughts go out to her family and friends at this time.

 

Elizabeth was a pivotal voice in writing about the lives and experiences of women solicitors. Her books Women in the Law and Sisters in Law focused on the outstanding contributions women solicitors, barristers and judges have made to our profession. We all stand on their shoulders, and Elizabeth made sure they were not forgotten.

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Elizabeth at our 100 Years of Women in Law celebrations last December. She had an impact on me as she was an inspirational contributor to the Law Society’s campaign. Her legacy is that the contributions she made will continue to serve as an inspiration for the next 100 years of women in law.”

Professor Judith Bourne, University of Roehampton

Elizabeth Cruickshank, teacher, solicitor, and legal historian died last week leaving a lasting legacy to feminist biography.

 

Elizabeth took me for afternoon tea at the Victoria & Albert Museum in 2002, after an introduction by Antonia Byatt from the Women’s Library. Antonia connected us because we were two of the few academics researching the lives of first women lawyers. I am so grateful for this initial connection because it marked the start of a network of legal historians, all piecing together the mosaic of this forgotten feminist history.

 

That first meeting enabled Elizabeth and I to share our research (and she was one of the few people I could talk to about those first women lawyers as if they were still alive without embarrassment). We shared a mutual passion and were both on a quest to restore these women trailblazers to their rightful place in history. Elizabeth became a friend who supported all my academic endeavours with her willingness and enthusiasm to contribute. Elizabeth recovered the life of Carrie Morrison and brought back to consciousness the roots of those first women solicitors from which all other women lawyers and ‘outsiders’ to the profession have branched.

Karen Aldred, former chair, Association of Women Solicitors

There are four things I remember most about Elizabeth.

 

First her passion and interest in finding out more about those women within the profession who led before us, her softly spoken calm and supportive way of dealing with things, her ability to turn my ideas into perfect prose for monthly newsletters and finally, although never speaking ill of anyone her killer accurate assessments of people and situations.

Coral Hill, founder of Legal Women magazine

Elizabeth was uniquely knowledgeable with her detailed research of women lawyers in the UK. Her dedication to the importance of recording this history enabled many of us to understand the shoulders on which we stand. She was utterly convinced of the importance of women’s groups for lawyers and a long standing supporter of the Association of Women Lawyers as well as a former Chair. 

 

She was a true role model for me. She combined her love of life, particularly for her family, with a passion for recording and changing the treatment of women in the legal profession.

Eduardo Reyes, commissioning and features editor, the Law Society Gazette

I was trained in history, rather than law, and as a commissioning editor, at times I judge lawyers’ attempts at writing history harshly. But Elizabeth’s work on the early women lawyers met an exceptional standard. She was a fine writer, and the work she did was the foundation for the scholarship in this area that has grown exponentially. Every historical fact or argument she committed to bore scrutiny, and she continued to contribute new material.

 

She was lovely to deal with as a contributor to the Gazette, but also generous with her time, knowledge and sources when I asked for assistance with my own research projects. We last spoke by phone – about an article she wanted to start researching on the fathers of early women solicitors. I’m sorry we will not now receive and publish that. I know it would have been full of facts and insights new to me and our readers.

 

Dana Denis-Smith, founder of First 100 Years

 

Elizabeth embraced the project I started in 2014, the First 100 Years of women in law, with such enthusiasm. She was the most amazing guide to me personally as I embarked on this ambitious project; as she was such a passionate researcher, she became an important contributor to our work and helped me find the rarest of sources to provide more colour and context for all those incredible stories we came across. I was so happy to see her at the centenary celebrations at the Law Society in December 2022.

 

Elizabeth did so much to change the perception of female legal pioneers - she has become a part of a process of transformation that will continue for generations to come - it so happens that on the very day of her funeral we will be unveiling a portrait of the first female admitted by Lincoln’s Inn and marking their centenary of women in law. It feels like a fitting tribute to a woman who did so much to bring to life female legal pioneers’, their lives and legacy. 

 

Fiona Fitzgerald, chief executive, Radcliffe Chambers

 

Elizabeth Cruickshank is remembered fondly by so many people from her various guises. As I was beginning my legal career, she was a mentor to me. She had a way of asking a question that made you think perhaps you needed to revisit an idea, she cajoled and indeed sometimes pushed when she felt something or indeed someone required that extra incentive. Indeed, I was the recipient of that belief many years ago in that I found myself chairing the Association of Women Solicitors having recently being made a partner whilst having a toddler running around at home. Her diplomacy skills were second to none. Above all she instilled confidence. I remain deeply grateful to her and know that it is through women like her in the legal profession who pushed equality, that we find ourselves in a fairer profession. We must continue her legacy. 

 

 

Alison Parkinson, Law Society Council member, representing women solicitors (2000-2005) 

 

Elizabeth utilised her brilliant journalistic skills to develop the AWS magazine ‘Link’into an essential communication tool for women in the profession in the days before the internet.

 

 

 Samantha McLeish, diversity and inclusion adviser, the Law Society 

 

I am saddened to have heard of the recent passing of the wonderful Elizabeth Cruickshank. I was privileged enough to have met and worked with Elizabeth during our 100 Years campaign and you could not help but be captivated by her vast knowledge and the passionate way in which she spoke. My thoughts are with her family and friends at this time.

 

Laura Barrell, chair, the Law Society Women Solicitors Network

 

Elizabeth was a formidable woman who committed extensive time and energy to the women in our profession. Her commitment to equality and educating us on important elements of our history has made a mark for us all to see and appreciate. She leaves behind a legacy of women that are empowered by her journey and inspired by her words. From all of us on the Women Solicitors Network Committee, thank you Elizabeth.