The first solicitors in the UK emerged in the middle of the 15th century. The profession is hundreds of years old and the history of solicitors is rich. The term ‘solicitor’ was coined in the Court of Chancery, which was established in the 16th century, and it was used to describe the appropriate agent for litigation. A solicitor is a legal practitioner who traditionally deals with most legal matters, in England and Wales a solicitor must have legally defined qualifications and usually also possess a practising certificate to be admitted to practice under the provisions of the Solicitors Act 1974. Since the 15th century the practice of law has changed and evolved significantly and solicitors have played a crucial role in shaping the law as we know it and society as whole. To appreciate the massive impact solicitors have had on the UK legal profession, let’s take a look at some of the famous UK solicitors throughout history.
Five Famous UK Solicitors
Many famous UK solicitors have contributed to both the profession of solicitors and the evolution of law, through innovative thinking pioneering change and their notable achievements in the profession. These influential solicitors include:
1. Sir Thomas More:
English lawyer and judge, Sir Thomas More rose through the ranks to eventually serve Henry VIII as Lord High Chancellor of England in 1529, the highest legal position in England. He modernised the functions of Chancery to improve people’s lives. In 1516, More, who was a devout Catholic who stood up for his beliefs and convictions, also wrote Utopia. Here, he describes the political system of an imaginary island state, an ideal society where justice, tolerance, and communal living triumphed. By discussing topics such as women’s rights, religious pluralism, and penology, More challenged social and political norms, while also opposing the Protestant Reformation. He also opposed both Henry VIII’s separation from the Catholic Church, refusing to acknowledge Henry as supreme head of the Church of England, as well as the annulment of Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon. After refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy, he was convicted of treason on what he claims was false evidence, and was executed.
Sticking to his legal principles lost More his head, however, he was lauded as an important religious figure during the English Reformation and was later canonized in 1935. More is now one of the most influential solicitors and is recognised as the patron saint of lawyers, civil servants and court clerks. His impact on law is complex, with academics continuing to debate his work. More:
- Influenced the formation of modern equity
- Helped to develop an impartial justice system
- Was instrumental in ensuring everyone has access to justice
- Highlighted that statesmen were required to embody justice
- Encouraged a respect for the law, stating that even unjust laws should be respected and anyone wanting change should wait for the right time to advocate for it
- Challenged the idea of positivity
2. Margaret Kidd KC
The first woman to take silk in the UK, Dame Margaret Henderson Kidd was a Scottish legal advocate, editor and politician. Not only was she the first woman to advocate to appear before the House of Lords and before a parliamentary select committee, she was also the first woman to become a member of the Faculty of Advocates. She held this position as the only female presence at the Scottish bar for 25 years. Her legal practice was varied with a focus on family law and in 1948 she became the first British female King’s counsel. She went on to become Sheriff Principal (the first woman to occupy such a post) and was also Editor of the Court of Session law reports of the Scots Law Times from 1942 to 1976.
Until the legislative change in 1923 allowing women to become lawyers, there had never been a female solicitor. Margaret Kidd has been instrumental in the history of solicitors and is the reason there is now gender diversity in the legal profession. As one of the most influential solicitors, she opened the doors to women not only practising law, but being respected and taken seriously in the field.
3. Edward Marshall Hall
Sir Edward Marshall Hall was an English barrister in the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, with a strong reputation as a public speaker. Known for his compelling courtroom advocacy, Sir Edward Marshall Hall was termed “The Great Defender”, for defending notorious murderers. As well as being elevated to King’s Counsel, Marshall Hall served twice in Parliament as a Unionist Member of Parliament for Southport, and for Liverpool East Toxteth. His practice impacted significantly impacted on the UK legal profession in a number of ways:
- Not only did Edward Marshall Hall defend murderers, but he also defended women and the poor, waving his fees in order to provide people who couldn’t afford it the legal representation they needed
- Hall’s compassion for the underprivileged led to changes in the law of diminished responsibility and provocation, as well as the introduction of infanticide, i.e. the crime of killing a child within a year of its birth.
- Hall was also known for his ability to relate to a jury and turn the prosecutions case back on them, which encouraged ongoing jury advocacy.
- By using technical details to his advantage, for example, ballistics evidence, he encouraged later generations of solicitors to utilise all the facts and rely on not only the facts, but also technology.
4. Helena Normanton
One of the first female influential solicitors in the UK, Helena Normanton made legal history in 1919 when she joined the Middle Temple and became the first woman to make use of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919, which was only passed the day before she joined. In 1894, Normanton experienced something she considered to be sex discrimination when her mother failed to understand legal advice provided to her by a solicitor. Normanton explained it to her mother in a ways she could understand, leading the solicitor to comment ‘quite the little lawyer’, which is what prompted her to join the UK legal profession and become one of the influential solicitors of our time. Normanton applied to join the Middle Temple and was refused, she appealed, with the help of Claud Schuster, Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor, but was refused again. Therefore, she continued to fight to end male exclusivity in the legal profession, by participating in public debates and her writings. She continued to practice until she retired. Not only did she work tirelessly to help people, such as other women trying to enter the bar, but she also improved divorce law to make it more equal. She became a King’s Counsel, the first woman to appear in the High Court, and the first woman to appear in the Old Bailey, but the reason she is one of our famous UK solicitors is because she pushed for change and equality.
5. William Garrow:
Have you ever wondered where the phrase “presumed innocent until proven guilty” came from? Well, it was introduced by William Garrow, an English barrister, politician and judge. Garrow is most known for his indirect reform of the advocacy system, which helped to introduce the adversarial court system which is used in most common law nations today. As a pioneer of the modern adversarial trial, Garrow positively impacted on the history of solicitors, particularly when it came to the courtroom. He insisted that defendants’ accusers and the evidence provided should be thoroughly tested in court. After his resignation in 1832, Garrow was made a Privy Councillor, which was a sign of the respect that the HM Government had for him.
Through the example he set by using his aggressive defence techniques, he helped to establish the modern adversarial system which is not only used in the United Kingdom, but also the United States, and other former British colonies. His work also led to the best evidence rule, a legal principle that holds an original of a document as superior evidence, and denies the use of a copy or other secondary evidence, if the original exists and can be obtained.
The modern UK legal profession
As you can see, the history of solicitors is rich, it has evolved and drastically changed throughout the years and it will continue to evolve to better serve and protect society. These famous UK solicitors and historical figures have a level of expertise and professionalism unmatched by others in the legal field, and these are values and skills that we at JM Wilson strive to embody every day. We aim to continue the legacy of excellence for our clients and for the improvement of the legal system.