A collaboration between Women in Law Kent (WILK) and the Kent Law Society, the Bertha Cave Awards aim to recognise and celebrate women in law in Kent.
Imogen’s nomination is ‘testament to the significant impact’ she has made in the legal community and reflects the ‘recognition and admiration’ of her peers. She was recently voted in, for a second time, as President of Kent Junior Lawyers Division.
The winners will be announced in Canterbury on International Women’s Day (Friday 8 March).
Bertha Cave (1881-1951), a servant's daughter, applied to join Gray's Inn in 1903 – which was extraordinary, given her sex and class. In her application, Bertha said: "I am aware that my application is most unusual and no doubt without precedent.” She was rejected but then appealed. However, Gray's Inn still refused to admit Cave because she ‘threatened the future of the bar’. Undeterred, she continued her campaign, alongside Christabel Pankhurst.
In November 1904, she attempted to represent her father in court (regarding non-payment of a bicycle). However, objections were raised regarding her gender and she was forced to move from the counsel benches.
