Women have long understood that, while a woman alone may have power, collectively women have impact. In a profession where men significantly outnumber women, especially at the more senior levels, this maxim has particular resonance. The judiciary is a paradigm example. The United Kingdom Association of Women Judges (UKAWJ), and the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) to which it is affiliated, both provide eloquent testimony to the importance of that collaboration and impact.

Brenda Hale founded the United Kingdom Association in 2003, together with me and other women judges, and she has served as our president from the outset. Notwithstanding her retirement from the Bench, she remains our Honorary President. From 2010 to 2012 she also served as President of the International Association. While Brenda’s individual achievements have inspired many women to become lawyers and to persevere with their legal careers, it is principally through her involvement with these organisations that, over the years, she has been able to meet, work with and enrich the lives of many other women judges (see also Chapters 3, 4 and 14, this volume). Her continuing support and her constant commitment to the encouragement and advancement of women in the judiciary and in the wider legal professions will leave a lasting legacy.