First law student and lawyer in Canada

Clara Brett Martin was not only the first woman to be called to the bar in Canada, but she was also the first lawyer in the British Commonwealth.

But before claiming all these accolades, she faced many challenges, like just getting into Osgoode Hall law school. Her initial application to the Law Society of Upper Canada to become a law student was rejected. It has been argued that since women are not legally considered “persons”, the Law Society’s use of the word “persons” means that only men can become lawyers.

However, support came to Martin’s aid and she was able to enter Osgoode in 1893. All thanks to the help of prominent figures and activists, a provincial law in 1892 was passed which redefined the term “persons” in the status of the Bar. The result is that the term “persons” must be interpreted to include women, with the exception of men. With this, the Bar began to allow women to be admitted as lawyers.

Finally, in 1897, Martin graduated from Osgoode and was called to the Ontario Bar. She later became a trustee of the Toronto Board of Education in 1901 and was its only female member for a decade.

First female judge in Canada

Emily F. Murphy was Canada’s first female magistrate (the equivalent of a provincial court judge today) in 1916, when she was appointed a police magistrate in Edmonton.