120 years ago, a ground-breaking milestone occurred in the legal profession when Ada Evans became the first woman in Australia to graduate with a Bachelor of Laws.
Ada’s bold and inspiring journey to obtain her law degree was a struggle against patriarchy and bias. As a result of her perseverance and determination, she helped reshape the legal profession and pave the way for future women of law.
Since that time, many trailblazing women of Sydney Law School have displayed strength, courage, and resilience to empower future generations and create a legal landscape that supports inclusivity, diversity and equity.
In 2022, Sydney Law School celebrates Ada and all the changemakers who have followed in her footsteps.
Here we highlight Ada and three inspiring women of Sydney Law School who have followed in her footsteps. These inspiring legal minds, who demonstrate the impact of individual action, are helping to create for future women of law.
Australian and international society have been profoundly shaped by the efforts of these trailblazing women, whether in the judiciary, in the legal profession, in academia, in business, in public life or in civil society.
Ada Evans (LLB 1902)
In 1899, Ada Evans was the first woman to enrol in a Bachelor of Laws at Sydney Law School. Ada submitted her application when the Dean at the time was fortuitously on leave, as he had made it clear he would not accept a female law student.
Ada’s enrolment was accepted but upon the Dean’s return, he told Ada that she “did not have the physique for law and would find medicine more suitable.”
Despite there being no precedent of women becoming lawyers at the time, Ada made history in 1902 by becoming the first woman in Australia to graduate with a Bachelor of Laws.
Even after Ada graduated, she was denied admission to the Bar because she was a woman. At the time, admission rules applied to ‘persons’ holding a law degree, but this term was interpreted by the (male) judges as applying only to men, excluding women.
Change came with the passing of the Women's Legal Status Act 1918, which facilitated Ada's admission to the bar, 19 years after beginning her journey into the law.
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120 years of educating women leaders at Sydney Law School (Sydney University)
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Ada Evans
