2025 Lord Atkin Lecture

On Friday 7 November, this year's Lord Atkin Scholar extended a very warm welcome on behalf of the school to our distinguished guest for the evening, the Rt Hon the Baroness Hale of Richmond DBE. 

Baroness Hale retired as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in January 2020, after a varied career, first as an academic lawyer at the University of Manchester (also qualifying and practising for a while as a barrister in Manchester), then as the first woman member of the Law Commission, and finally as a Judge. She has taken part in many notable cases, but most famously the ‘prorogation case’ in September 2019. In retirement she has spent her time in good works, speaking and writing – her memoir, 'Spider Woman, A Life', was published in 2021, and her new book, 'With the Law on Our Side', was published in September 2025.

In the year in which we are celebrating 40 years of co-education at Christ College, Harrison said he was especially looking forward to her lecture, 'Life as a Lady Law Lord' - a title that cleverly references the tangle the world gets into when our language is so asymmetrical.

As part of his welcome, he went on to observe that the cover of the programme for this year's lecture was noticeably different. Instead of the usual sedate variations on school colours, this year's programme had taken on an unusual purple hue. Harrison explained,  

The colour of the programme - purple - represents the House colours of de Winton House, the first House for girls at Christ College. In this year of celebration, we have chosen the colour to acknowledge of our own female pioneers and trailblazers who brought new perspectives, overcoming barriers when the school began its first steps towards co-education after four hundred years of being a very different place. 

I am sure 'Life of a Lady Law Lord' is going to be a chance for all of us learn from someone who chose not to be bound by the conventions of others, and will help us understand more about the legal profession and the impact of the female voice. On behalf of us all, sincere thanks for joining us here at Christ College this evening.  

In her lecture, the twentieth since the inaugural Lord Atkin Lecture in 2003, Baroness Hale enthralled the audience with reflections on her distinguished legal career and insights into being the first woman to be appointed as a Law Lord.

Clearly inspired by her words, the audience were keen to hear more and asked questions that ranged from her thoughts on specific points of law to her reflections on bringing a female perspective to certain cases. Her thoughtful responses, given with a measured balance of gravitas and humour, were much enjoyed. 

We are most grateful that Baroness Hale was able to join us for evening, particularly in this year of celebration. The format of the Lord Atkin Lecture is notoriously difficult to navigate because audience includes practitioners with decades of experience in law as well as interested guests and Sixth Form pupils who may be considering a law career. We are therefore especially appreciative of the way she engaged with pupils during the lecture itself and in the convivial gathering immediately afterwards. We offer her our most sincere thanks. 

Two Law Lords, Lord Atkin and Baroness Hale, with the Head, Gareth Pearson, and Harrison, the 2025 Lord Atkin Scholar. 

Photo credit: Izzy Hurn for Christ College