Frances Kyle

Frances Christian Kyle (30 October 1893 — 12 February 1958) was an Irish barrister and the first woman, together with Averil Deverell, to be admitted to the bar in Ireland[1][2] on 1 November 1921.[3][4] It not only made headlines in Dublin but also in New York, London, and India. It was almost a year before any woman was called to the English bar (Ivy Williams, 10 May 1922).[5]

Biography

Kyle was born on 30 October 1893 to parents, Kathleen Frances Bates and Robert Alexander Kyle. She received her BA in French, in 1914,[3] and her LLB, in 1916, at Trinity College, Dublin[4] where she became the first woman to win the John Brooke Scholarship.[5] At the time, The Irish Times described her being awarded the Scholarship as representing "a women’s invasion of the law."[4] In January 1920, Frances and Averil were admitted as the first female students of law at King's Inns, Dublin. Frances came first in the Bar Entrance Examinations. In 1922, Frances was elected a member of the circuit of Northern Ireland at a meeting in Belfast, becoming the first female member of a circuit. Frances is reported in the Dublin Evening Telegraph in 1922 as having received eight briefs.[3]

Frances struggled to find work as her last listing in Thoms Law Directory is in 1931. In 1937, she appeared in court to defend herself on a parking summons.[3] By 1952, Frances was living in London with her sister Kathleen, who was married to a medical inspector, Dr. John McCloy. In 1930, Kathleen was described by the Belfast Newsletter as "very well known in Belfast" and "a delightful speaker".

Frances died on 12 February 1958, aged 64.

References
  1. McMahon, Aine (24 February 2015). "Scales of justice tip in favour of women but more needs to be done". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  2. Bacik, Ivana; Costello, Cathryn; Drew, Eileen (2003). Gender InJustice:Feminising the Legal Professions? (PDF). Trinity College Dublin Law School. p. 11. ISBN 0953497917.
  3. First Hundred Years, https://first100years.org.uk/frances-kyle-biography/
  4. "Frances Kyle and Averill Deverel". Legally Hers. First Hundred Years. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  5. "Female Lawyers in Ireland". First 100 Years. Retrieved 29 January 2018.


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