Bebb v The Law Society was an unsuccessful legal action by Gwyneth Bebb and three other women, Maud Crofts, Karin Costelloe and Lucy Nettlefold, to get the Law Society to admit them to its preliminary examinations, on the basis that women were a ‘person’ within the meaning of the Solicitors Act 1843, and so was entitled to be admitted.
The judge ruled that women were unable to carry out public functions unless Parliament changed the law. However, the publicity from the case helped the campaign for women’s admission to the legal profession, and was an important step towards the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919.
