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The Inns of Court Alliance for Women

Introduction By Leigh-Ann Mulcahy KC

The Inner Temple Co-Convenor of the Inns of Court Alliance for Women opened the annual cross-profession garden party on 23 June 2025. Her words set the scene for an inspiring and thought-provoking speech by Supreme Court Justice, The Rt Hon Lady Simler DBE.

Good evening, everyone. I am The Inner Temple Co-Convenor of the Inns of Court Alliance for Women (ICAW), along with my fellow Co-Convenors, Brie Stevens-Hoare KC representing Lincoln’s Inn, Mrs Justice Lieven representing Gray’s Inn and Ruth Kirby KC representing Middle Temple.

ICAW was originally established in 2011 as a collaboration between Inner and Middle Temple (then known as the Temple Women’s Forum) and in 2022, it became a collaboration between all four Inns.

The Alliance exists in recognition of the fact that there are challenges and barriers to career progression and wellbeing faced by women in the law. It seeks to provide a safe forum where issues facing women in the profession can be discussed in order to foster a culture of mutual support. It supports the Inns’ wider commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and social mobility. ICAW takes an intersectional approach, recognising that disadvantages can also arise from being of a non-white ethnic background, being disabled or LGBTQ+ or by reason of socio-economic factors.

On behalf of the Committee of the Alliance, can I thank you all for coming. And special thanks also to those male allies who are here with us today.

This is the 11th time we have held an annual networking party, and it continues to be one of the main diversity events of the calendar. I would like to thank the staff of the Inns who support the Alliance’s events throughout the year, and the staff at The Inner Temple for the work they have put into the arrangements to make this party so enjoyable. Whilst on the subject of diversity events, I should also mention that The Inner Temple is hosting another all-Inns event for the Bar and solicitors’ profession later this week as part of Pride month, titled ‘Pride in Practice’.

Now it is my pleasure to introduce our speaker to do the welcome this evening, Dame Ingrid Simler.

Female barrister and human rights activist Amal Clooney has said, “Success is not about the position you hold, but the positive impact you create.” In the case of Lady Simler, her success is about both. She was called to the Bar in 1987 and practised in tax and employment law. She took silk in 2006 and was Head of Devereux Chambers before becoming a judge of the then Queen’s Bench Division in 2013 and then President of the Employment Appeal Tribunal. She was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2019 and became a Justice of the Supreme Court in 2023 (only the fifth woman to be appointed since its inception). A champion of diversity, she was High Court Liaison Judge for Diversity and then chair of the Diversity Committee of the Judges’ Council. I have personally had the privilege of being a member of The Inner Temple Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity Sub-Committee, which Lady Simler chaired for a number of years with great empathy and sensitivity.