The View from the Bench: in conversation with Supreme Court Justice, Lady Black of Derwent

On this, her first visit to LSE, Lady Black will speak about her work as a judge, reflecting on her career in the law. 

Jill Margaret Black was appointed to the UK Supreme Court in 2017, only the second female judge to reach the position. Lady Black attended Penrhos College in North Wales before studying at Durham University. The first lawyer in her family, her initial career at the Bar involved a broad range of criminal and civil work, although she later specialised in family law. For a period in the 1980s she taught law at Leeds Polytechnic. She was a founding author of the definitive guide to family law practice in England and Wales, and continues to serve as a consulting editor. Lady Black was appointed to the High Court in 1999, assigned to the Family Division. In 2004 she became the Chairman of the Judicial Studies Board's Family Committee, until her appointment as a Judicial Appointments Commissioner in 2008, where she served until 2013. Lady Black was appointed a Lady Justice of Appeal in 2010. She was previously Head of International Family Justice.

Zimran Samuel is a Visiting Fellow at LSE and a Barrister at Doughty Street Chambers.

Conor Gearty (@conorgearty) is a Professor of Human Rights Law in the Department of Law at LSE.