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Spider Woman: A Life
Lady Hale is an inspirational figure admired for her historic achievements and for the causes she has championed. Spider Woman is her story.
As President of the Supreme Court, Lady Hale won global attention in finding the 2019 prorogation of Parliament to be unlawful. Yet that dramatic moment was merely the pinnacle of a career throughout which she was hailed as a pioneering reformer. As 'a little girl from a little school in a little village in North Yorkshire', she only went into the law because her headteacher told her she wasn't clever enough to study history. She became the most senior judge in the country.
How does a self-professed 'girly swot' get ahead in a profession dominated by men? A lifelong smasher of glass-ceilings, who took as her motto 'women are equal to everything', her landmark rulings in areas including domestic violence, divorce, mental health and equality were her attempt to correct that.
Wise, warm and inspiring, Spider Woman shows how the law shapes our world. It is the story of how Lady Hale found that she could overcome the odds and change British law for good.
As President of the Supreme Court, Lady Hale won global attention in finding the 2019 prorogation of Parliament to be unlawful. Yet that dramatic moment was merely the pinnacle of a career throughout which she was hailed as a pioneering reformer. As 'a little girl from a little school in a little village in North Yorkshire', she only went into the law because her headteacher told her she wasn't clever enough to study history. She became the most senior judge in the country.
How does a self-professed 'girly swot' get ahead in a profession dominated by men? A lifelong smasher of glass-ceilings, who took as her motto 'women are equal to everything', her landmark rulings in areas including domestic violence, divorce, mental health and equality were her attempt to correct that.
Wise, warm and inspiring, Spider Woman shows how the law shapes our world. It is the story of how Lady Hale found that she could overcome the odds and change British law for good.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published May 1, 2022
130 people are currently reading
823 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Hale
23 books15 followersBrenda Marjorie Hale, Baroness Hale, DBE, QC, PC, FBA is a British legal academic, barrister, judge and a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.
In 2004, she joined the House of Lords as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. She was the only woman ever to have been appointed to this position. She served as a Law Lord until 2009 when she, along with the other Law Lords, transferred to the new Supreme Court. She remains the most senior female judge in the history of the United Kingdom.
In 2004, she joined the House of Lords as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. She was the only woman ever to have been appointed to this position. She served as a Law Lord until 2009 when she, along with the other Law Lords, transferred to the new Supreme Court. She remains the most senior female judge in the history of the United Kingdom.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
October 29, 2021
An interesting insight into over half a century of change in the law and society.
In full
Lady Hale - Brenda - came from a very ordinary background. As she says she was "a little girl from a little school in a little village in North Yorkshire', she only went into the law because her headteacher told her she wasn't clever enough to study history". Given that she ended up as the most senior judge in the country and was a woman in amongst an otherwise largely elite group of men, her life has been a real journey. This book tells of her childhood, her education and her development as an academic and a judge.
The start of this book covers her early childhood and education. I did find it interesting from a sociological perspective however it isn't really a "pacey" read. The changes is society over her lifetime were one of the things that I actually found very interesting. Initially her life is very ordinary and at best might be described as middle class. By the end of her book she is in antiques robes giving judgements on important cases including aspects the government's actions over BREXIT in the highest court in the land. The breadth of insight into society will certainly interest some.
The remainder of the book takes us through the various jobs and roles that Lady Hale has had during her career. Initially her involvement with the law was solely in academia. However - and sometimes to her surprise - she was gradually called to more and more challenging jobs directly and indirectly dealing with the laws of this country. Initially she spent time with the Law Commission reviewing and updating laws. After that she was a judge and increasingly senior ending with her time as President of the Supreme Court.
She is quite clear that the law should be paramount however, within that, she manages to look at laws through her own perspective. The fact that she is a rare female in this respect gives her views a different angle to others involved in the law. One thing that is quite clear almost from the start of her story is that she is a feminist. Maybe not in a radical sense but it is a fundamental part of her character.
In all of this Lady Hale's sheer humanity does come through in addition to her feminist position. She is a remarkable woman who has achieved a great deal even if she has been left frustrated at times (largely by male colleagues!). Equality broadly is a cornerstone of her belief as I read it. She bristles when any arguments are made that ignore this. Given how high she has risen while holding tightly to her principles it is clear that many people who may not agree with her still respect her. She certainly finds some of the arcane processes and traditions not entirely to her taste. However she does seem to like some of the "gowns" that are part of the traditions!
Personally I found Lady Hale and her life very interesting indeed. Overall the book acts as a very interesting insight into both legal and social changes over more than half a century. My feeling is that people with an interest in society generally and the law in particular will be the ones who find this book most appealing. Others should find it worthwhile however the focus on the law and particular cases might make it less accessible to some. 3.5/5
Note - I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
In full
Lady Hale - Brenda - came from a very ordinary background. As she says she was "a little girl from a little school in a little village in North Yorkshire', she only went into the law because her headteacher told her she wasn't clever enough to study history". Given that she ended up as the most senior judge in the country and was a woman in amongst an otherwise largely elite group of men, her life has been a real journey. This book tells of her childhood, her education and her development as an academic and a judge.
The start of this book covers her early childhood and education. I did find it interesting from a sociological perspective however it isn't really a "pacey" read. The changes is society over her lifetime were one of the things that I actually found very interesting. Initially her life is very ordinary and at best might be described as middle class. By the end of her book she is in antiques robes giving judgements on important cases including aspects the government's actions over BREXIT in the highest court in the land. The breadth of insight into society will certainly interest some.
The remainder of the book takes us through the various jobs and roles that Lady Hale has had during her career. Initially her involvement with the law was solely in academia. However - and sometimes to her surprise - she was gradually called to more and more challenging jobs directly and indirectly dealing with the laws of this country. Initially she spent time with the Law Commission reviewing and updating laws. After that she was a judge and increasingly senior ending with her time as President of the Supreme Court.
She is quite clear that the law should be paramount however, within that, she manages to look at laws through her own perspective. The fact that she is a rare female in this respect gives her views a different angle to others involved in the law. One thing that is quite clear almost from the start of her story is that she is a feminist. Maybe not in a radical sense but it is a fundamental part of her character.
In all of this Lady Hale's sheer humanity does come through in addition to her feminist position. She is a remarkable woman who has achieved a great deal even if she has been left frustrated at times (largely by male colleagues!). Equality broadly is a cornerstone of her belief as I read it. She bristles when any arguments are made that ignore this. Given how high she has risen while holding tightly to her principles it is clear that many people who may not agree with her still respect her. She certainly finds some of the arcane processes and traditions not entirely to her taste. However she does seem to like some of the "gowns" that are part of the traditions!
Personally I found Lady Hale and her life very interesting indeed. Overall the book acts as a very interesting insight into both legal and social changes over more than half a century. My feeling is that people with an interest in society generally and the law in particular will be the ones who find this book most appealing. Others should find it worthwhile however the focus on the law and particular cases might make it less accessible to some. 3.5/5
Note - I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
January 23, 2022
Lady Hale motto: Women are Equal to Everything
Lady Hale came to countrywide prominence in 2019 when she ruled that Boris Johnson’s prorogation of parliament was unlawful. We learned a new word – prorogation (the action of discontinuing a session of a parliament without dissolving it) – and glittering spider brooches (as worn by Lady Hale on that day) were sold out everywhere. It is a sad indictment of our society, that when confronted with a highly intelligent, powerful woman, making a very important pronouncement that could have major ramifications for the future of our country – we first notice what she is wearing, then wonder where we could get a brooch like that, then wonder if it had any specific hidden meaning pro/anti Boris (it didn’t!). We may forget her name – but not the brooch – hence the title of this book.
Lady Hale is a remarkable woman, who climbed to the top of the British legal system. She was a Law Lord until that position was abolished in 2009, became a member then president of the Supreme Court which succeeded the Law Lords, and a member of the Privy Council and Queen’s Council.
Throughout her long legal career, Lady Hale has had an interest in constitutional law (Britain does not have a written constitution – the constitution encompasses all laws made in the land) and in the promotion of women’s and family rights. Many of the rights that we, as women, take for granted in this country today, were either brought about or strengthened by Lady Hale. She is a proud feminist and politically unaligned.
Unlike in the USA, our Supreme Court justices are not household names, and are not political appointments. They also have a retirement age (currently 75). Lady Hale was the first Supreme court justice whose name I learned. For Americans, she is our Ruth Bader Ginsberg – though nowhere near as well known.
I wanted to know more about Lady Hale, and this autobiography was the perfect vehicle. It charts her life from childhood up to just after her retirement in 2020. I listened to the audiobook, ably narrated by Lady Hale herself.
She was born in 1945 to a middle-class family, both parents were teachers. She became a life peer (member of the House of Lords) when she became a Law Lord. In her life she has lived through so many changes impacting society as a whole, and women in particular, and I found this part of the book fascinating. Later, the book focuses on her legal work. I do not have a legal background, so probably did not fully understand all the influences that her rulings had – but found them interesting nonetheless. The book made me aware of how ignorant I am about the workings of the judiciary in this country – and how much I really should make an effort to learn.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone – British or from other countries – who wants to know more about the British legal system, or more importantly, anyone who wants to find out about this amazing woman, and how British society has evolved over the last 75 years.
Lady Hale came to countrywide prominence in 2019 when she ruled that Boris Johnson’s prorogation of parliament was unlawful. We learned a new word – prorogation (the action of discontinuing a session of a parliament without dissolving it) – and glittering spider brooches (as worn by Lady Hale on that day) were sold out everywhere. It is a sad indictment of our society, that when confronted with a highly intelligent, powerful woman, making a very important pronouncement that could have major ramifications for the future of our country – we first notice what she is wearing, then wonder where we could get a brooch like that, then wonder if it had any specific hidden meaning pro/anti Boris (it didn’t!). We may forget her name – but not the brooch – hence the title of this book.
Lady Hale is a remarkable woman, who climbed to the top of the British legal system. She was a Law Lord until that position was abolished in 2009, became a member then president of the Supreme Court which succeeded the Law Lords, and a member of the Privy Council and Queen’s Council.
Throughout her long legal career, Lady Hale has had an interest in constitutional law (Britain does not have a written constitution – the constitution encompasses all laws made in the land) and in the promotion of women’s and family rights. Many of the rights that we, as women, take for granted in this country today, were either brought about or strengthened by Lady Hale. She is a proud feminist and politically unaligned.
Unlike in the USA, our Supreme Court justices are not household names, and are not political appointments. They also have a retirement age (currently 75). Lady Hale was the first Supreme court justice whose name I learned. For Americans, she is our Ruth Bader Ginsberg – though nowhere near as well known.
I wanted to know more about Lady Hale, and this autobiography was the perfect vehicle. It charts her life from childhood up to just after her retirement in 2020. I listened to the audiobook, ably narrated by Lady Hale herself.
She was born in 1945 to a middle-class family, both parents were teachers. She became a life peer (member of the House of Lords) when she became a Law Lord. In her life she has lived through so many changes impacting society as a whole, and women in particular, and I found this part of the book fascinating. Later, the book focuses on her legal work. I do not have a legal background, so probably did not fully understand all the influences that her rulings had – but found them interesting nonetheless. The book made me aware of how ignorant I am about the workings of the judiciary in this country – and how much I really should make an effort to learn.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone – British or from other countries – who wants to know more about the British legal system, or more importantly, anyone who wants to find out about this amazing woman, and how British society has evolved over the last 75 years.
October 25, 2021
Lady Hale’s Spider Woman is a must read for so many reasons.
A trailblazer, a staunch feminist within a man’s world of traditions and views, a wife and mother, a woman suffering from imposter syndrome. Lady Hale takes us from her early/school years in a North Yorkshire Village to the presidency of the Supreme Court. Along the way she is one of a small number of women at Cambridge, an academic in Manchester, the first female law commissioner and thereafter (along with Lady Butler Sloss) making waves and paving the way for women in the highest judicial roles in the country.
Beautifully written and truly inspiring, this is an incredible read. Lady Hale hopes that during her career she has made a difference … I suspect she couldn’t have had a more positive impact.
Thanks to Vintage, Penguin Random House and Netgalley for an ARC.
A trailblazer, a staunch feminist within a man’s world of traditions and views, a wife and mother, a woman suffering from imposter syndrome. Lady Hale takes us from her early/school years in a North Yorkshire Village to the presidency of the Supreme Court. Along the way she is one of a small number of women at Cambridge, an academic in Manchester, the first female law commissioner and thereafter (along with Lady Butler Sloss) making waves and paving the way for women in the highest judicial roles in the country.
Beautifully written and truly inspiring, this is an incredible read. Lady Hale hopes that during her career she has made a difference … I suspect she couldn’t have had a more positive impact.
Thanks to Vintage, Penguin Random House and Netgalley for an ARC.
December 2, 2021
An interesting and enjoyable read into the author's life and the law itself.
November 14, 2021
As readers of my reviews will know, educated in law but non-practising, this book was a must-read for many reasons, if nothing else, because many lectures of mine took place in the Lady Hale building at The University of Salford.
Unfortunately, I did feel that that it did take a bit of time to get going. In-depth history was within the first few chapters. However, I felt the backstories of the accounts of schools and pubs were unnecessary and not my reason for choosing the book.
Once you made it through those, it was a real page-turner, not just reflecting a fascinating account into the highest legal systems in the country, but how she reached her position.
A highly recommended read for those who are interested in law, skip past the first few chapters if you aren't a history buff.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Random House UK for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I did feel that that it did take a bit of time to get going. In-depth history was within the first few chapters. However, I felt the backstories of the accounts of schools and pubs were unnecessary and not my reason for choosing the book.
Once you made it through those, it was a real page-turner, not just reflecting a fascinating account into the highest legal systems in the country, but how she reached her position.
A highly recommended read for those who are interested in law, skip past the first few chapters if you aren't a history buff.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Random House UK for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2022
I bought this book without expecting how much Lady Hale would go into the details, when talking about the cases she had to decide on. She has definitely articulated her thought processes, reasonings etc. in a simple and easily understandable manner, especially for those without any legal background. This was also addressed in her acknowledgement chapter where she mentioned that she was persuaded by her editor to slightly amend her writing and articulation style to cater for a wider group of audience, more specifically, those without legal knowledge. I truly appreciate this since I had no prior involvement/ knowledge in Family Law but have learnt about the major issues arising under that field of law after reading about the few interesting and notable cases which Lady Hale was involved in/ played a part in deciding.
As a woman aspiring barrister, I can't help but feel like an imposter most of the time when I am in the midst of/ working towards pursuing a career at the English Bar. However, it is quite reassuring to know that it is normal to experience this but one's progress in achieving success should never be hindered by it.
Amazing book for anyone who's interested in knowing more about the way judges deliberate and/or reach a decision and for those who feel like an imposter in their journey in pursuing a career at the English Bar, I'm sure you will benefit from reading this book.
As a woman aspiring barrister, I can't help but feel like an imposter most of the time when I am in the midst of/ working towards pursuing a career at the English Bar. However, it is quite reassuring to know that it is normal to experience this but one's progress in achieving success should never be hindered by it.
Amazing book for anyone who's interested in knowing more about the way judges deliberate and/or reach a decision and for those who feel like an imposter in their journey in pursuing a career at the English Bar, I'm sure you will benefit from reading this book.
December 29, 2021
Insane, everyone should read this!!! On the personal side, her story is amazing, and legally it is a great introduction to the workings of the judiciary, especially the system itself and above all the Supreme Court. But beyond that, her humanity in applying the law (so often nameless) is heart-warming. Now I want to be a judge…
May 28, 2022
I was very kindly sent an advance copy of this, which (because I have the attention span of a goldfish) it then took me almost 9 months to read, on and off. This is not a reflection on the book! I remember reading Lady Hale's judgments as an undergraduate and finding them refreshingly readable, even when I didn't agree with them, and this book retains that accessibility. An engaging insight into the life of someone who has had a tremendous impact, would recommend.
February 7, 2024
3.5 stars. 4 felt generous so went for 3.
July 24, 2025
What a spectacular woman and, more broadly, individual! The future of the Bar and the judiciary in the UK doesn’t seem so scary when you hear about the people at the head of it, fighting for equality within the Law as well as equal access to justice.
December 8, 2021
An interesting exploration of the life and career of a truly inspiring woman - Lady Hale. I listened to the audio book, so benefitted from hearing the story told by Lady Hale herself. I enjoyed the earlier sections about her life growing up, but found the latter sections exploring her career a little harder to remain as involved in as I found the detailed exploration of the law a bit dry at times. Pleased I read it though - wasn’t familiar with Lady Hale before this and feel she is a true inspiration for other women.
December 6, 2021
Perhaps appropriately for a lawyer this was interesting but a bit dry. She's done a lot of good work, especially in the area of family law, and is happy to call herself a feminist, though of a more conservative stripe than some. Her placid descriptions of some of the more ludicrous costumes and rituals show just how hidebound and old-fashioned the judicial system can be, and how narrow-minded many of the men still are! It's worth a read to give a flavour of how women can work within legal institutions, just don't expect zippy prose and racy anecdotes, (unless you find detailed descriptions of the carpeting of the new Supreme Court offices to be racy).
October 16, 2022
All day. Every day. No doubt. A five star review. This is not an autobiography of a lawyer. It is not an autobiography of an academic. This is the autobiography of a woman who was - and is - incredibly courageous.
She has lived a life of questioning - to summon her introduction - if she could 'cope' - and then going on to not only cope, but thrive.
It is a book of rigour. Of ideas. Of arguments. Of the law. But it is also a book of deep emotions and tragedies that are kept in a tight draw and just allowed to see some light. The death of her father - so young. The death of her husband during COVID, just after she retired. These personal catastrophes are discussed with gentleness and evenness.
This is a woman of courage. She is known for choosing her moment - and wearing 'that' spider brooch. But she is a woman that reminds other women - other humans - what we can be and do. We must ask the question - can I cope? And then answer it with a resounding and clear - YES.
She has lived a life of questioning - to summon her introduction - if she could 'cope' - and then going on to not only cope, but thrive.
It is a book of rigour. Of ideas. Of arguments. Of the law. But it is also a book of deep emotions and tragedies that are kept in a tight draw and just allowed to see some light. The death of her father - so young. The death of her husband during COVID, just after she retired. These personal catastrophes are discussed with gentleness and evenness.
This is a woman of courage. She is known for choosing her moment - and wearing 'that' spider brooch. But she is a woman that reminds other women - other humans - what we can be and do. We must ask the question - can I cope? And then answer it with a resounding and clear - YES.
December 8, 2021
What an impressive woman who has done so much to change the lives of women and children through legal changes. Other people said she came from an ordinary background, but it should be noted that her family were very well educated with Oxbridge graduates. For the times, that was not ordinary! And she is extraordinary
March 13, 2022
While an intriguing, and at times personal, window into arguably one of the most impactful justices of the Supreme Court, the book often translates into a traditional legal textbook which explores case law as opposed to an autobiography.
January 4, 2023
No better way to start the year off than with my icon and queen Lady Hale. I love women in the law and hope to be even an ounce as incredible she was to the law.
October 31, 2024
I want to be her when I grow up
August 7, 2023
Car listening book.
Really interesting account of a life devoted to the law and to women within it.
Especially interesting on the prorogation dispute - all explained clearly and with great wisdom.
Really interesting account of a life devoted to the law and to women within it.
Especially interesting on the prorogation dispute - all explained clearly and with great wisdom.
March 30, 2024
Such an impressive woman to read about. She does not do enough to toot her own horn, and takes a modest approach. Ultimately it is so interesting to see the incredible work she has done on her journey thus far, particularly having done so amidst a narrow minded and sexist legal culture.
April 30, 2024
I've long had a casual interest in law and that's probably why I found this so interesting. I am now determined to visit the Supreme Court someday!
November 21, 2021
Interesting – up to a point. It’s an honest and candid memoir, and a fascinating glimpse into our law and its institutions. It’s an inspiring account of how one remarkable and determined woman made it to the top of her profession at a time when the odds were stacked against her. However, as a memoir with a focus on the law, it made for a sometimes dry and academic read. Of course, there’s absolutely no necessity for someone to write about their private life if they don’t choose to, but the result is that Lady Hale remains distant as a person, and although she does mention her family life on occasion, she comes across as curiously unemotional. Thus although I remain admiring, I didn’t feel I could relate to her in any meaningful way. Nevertheless, it’s a worthwhile read and I learnt much about our legal system from it.
November 18, 2021
This recently published autobiography by the former President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom was absorbing and inspiring.
This is Lady Hale’s account of her professional life, from her time at school and through her legal career. Her passion for her subject shines through on every page: there are not many people who could be so excited by an exam question as for it to feature in their autobiography, but it happens in here. Her enthusiasm is infectious. It is clear, too, especially from Hale’s accounts of complex family law cases, how much she is interested in the effects of the law on “real people’s lives”.
Beyond her childhood, Hale touches only very lightly on her personal life, though I was moved by the deeply personal “afterthoughts”.
Mostly, though, I found this book inspiring. Hale’s dedication to her profession, and her strength and stamina—even in the face of endless sexism—are remarkable.
This is Lady Hale’s account of her professional life, from her time at school and through her legal career. Her passion for her subject shines through on every page: there are not many people who could be so excited by an exam question as for it to feature in their autobiography, but it happens in here. Her enthusiasm is infectious. It is clear, too, especially from Hale’s accounts of complex family law cases, how much she is interested in the effects of the law on “real people’s lives”.
Beyond her childhood, Hale touches only very lightly on her personal life, though I was moved by the deeply personal “afterthoughts”.
Mostly, though, I found this book inspiring. Hale’s dedication to her profession, and her strength and stamina—even in the face of endless sexism—are remarkable.
November 4, 2021
Lady Hale shot to public attention in 2019 when, as President of the Supreme Court, she delivered a verdict that Boris Johnson's prorogation of Parliament was unlawful. On the day in question, she was wearing a spider brooch which attracted much press speculation about the message being sent to Boris, and which inspired the title for her new book, Spider Woman. Spider Woman tracks Lady Hale's life from her early childhood through to her retirement, giving a fascinating insight into the woman responsible for smashing a number of the legal profession's glass ceilings.
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Lady Hale's impressive career shows her to be more than just a woman with an interesting taste in accessories - she was the youngest person to be appointed Law Commissioner, the second woman to be appointed to the Court of Appeal, a Law Lord, the first female Deputy President of the Supreme Court and then its first female President. It's a distinguished CV yet, somewhat surprisingly, Spider Woman starts off discussing Imposter Syndrome and from there goes on to chart Lady Hale's school days, role models and earliest experiences, and how they shaped her passion for the law.
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Being both a lawyer and a feminist, I was interested to read about Lady Hale's life. The most engaging parts of Spider Women for me were those exploring the judgements she made in landmark cases on issues such as domestic violence, mental health and divorce, but the book is written in such a way as to make it easily readable by those who are not legally trained. Lady Hales's discussion of the role that her gender played in these judgements was thought-provoking, and it was truly inspiring to read of someone managing to thrive in the face of so many barriers and outdated attitudes.
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If you're taking part in Non-Fiction November this year, I'd highly recommend adding Spider Woman to your list. Also, the audiobook is narrated by Lady Hale, which I thought was a nice touch.
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Lady Hale's impressive career shows her to be more than just a woman with an interesting taste in accessories - she was the youngest person to be appointed Law Commissioner, the second woman to be appointed to the Court of Appeal, a Law Lord, the first female Deputy President of the Supreme Court and then its first female President. It's a distinguished CV yet, somewhat surprisingly, Spider Woman starts off discussing Imposter Syndrome and from there goes on to chart Lady Hale's school days, role models and earliest experiences, and how they shaped her passion for the law.
🕷
Being both a lawyer and a feminist, I was interested to read about Lady Hale's life. The most engaging parts of Spider Women for me were those exploring the judgements she made in landmark cases on issues such as domestic violence, mental health and divorce, but the book is written in such a way as to make it easily readable by those who are not legally trained. Lady Hales's discussion of the role that her gender played in these judgements was thought-provoking, and it was truly inspiring to read of someone managing to thrive in the face of so many barriers and outdated attitudes.
🕷
If you're taking part in Non-Fiction November this year, I'd highly recommend adding Spider Woman to your list. Also, the audiobook is narrated by Lady Hale, which I thought was a nice touch.
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January 6, 2023
Reassuring to know that an esteemed individual such as Baroness Hale would feel succumb to imposter syndrome. Her expertise in family law was of extreme interest to me. A bit slow when she talks about early life to university.
Exceptional for a biography.
Exceptional for a biography.
January 5, 2025
I really enjoyed exploring Lady Hale's journey to the Supreme Court through this book. Her journey through the law courts to the position of president of the Supreme Court tracked also the journey of women into a largely male dominated role.
I appreciated Lady Hale's softness throughout the book, she didn't feel the need to present herself as a 'strong' woman. She was open about her feelings of being an imposter at points and about her disappointments. She was logical and listening in her approach to cases. She smiled through moments where her gender unnecessarily became the forefront and calmly requested changes to be made. She remained human and ordinary in her writing and that makes it more inspiring as a reader- there is a feeling of 'maybe I could do something like that too'.
Her reflections were insightful and humble with great respect shown for her colleagues. I found it fascinating to have this window into a world I haven't explored before. It made me reflect on the complexity of legal cases, as she described some of the ones she has been involved in. She described longstanding practices and changes in the system- especially in relation to women.
I am glad to have learned about Lady Hale and I have found her quite inspirational. She has an air of humility and steady strength and power, supported by gentleness and care, that I found quite unique.
I appreciated Lady Hale's softness throughout the book, she didn't feel the need to present herself as a 'strong' woman. She was open about her feelings of being an imposter at points and about her disappointments. She was logical and listening in her approach to cases. She smiled through moments where her gender unnecessarily became the forefront and calmly requested changes to be made. She remained human and ordinary in her writing and that makes it more inspiring as a reader- there is a feeling of 'maybe I could do something like that too'.
Her reflections were insightful and humble with great respect shown for her colleagues. I found it fascinating to have this window into a world I haven't explored before. It made me reflect on the complexity of legal cases, as she described some of the ones she has been involved in. She described longstanding practices and changes in the system- especially in relation to women.
I am glad to have learned about Lady Hale and I have found her quite inspirational. She has an air of humility and steady strength and power, supported by gentleness and care, that I found quite unique.
April 3, 2023
Incredible book that you should read, really good read, engaging, good length for each section. The bit that got me the most was talking about a family law case that she was the judge for and she admitted she was wrong and fucked up (paraphrasing there obviously) and that what she did wasn't helping anyone and that it's lucky another judge saw the case after she made the judgement she did and went back on what she said and had the common sense to do what was best for the family. You don't often hear people admitting they were wrong and hurt people for no benefit with something they did, even rarer in their memoir so I have a lot of respect for her for that.
I like that she covered that you do what you think is legally right, and that may involve opinions (such as what you believe to be in a child's best interests) but your personal opinions shouldn't override the law. Such as if the law makes it clear it's wrong, it doesn't matter if you don't like that. It's the law you're judging, not whether you like the law or not. Sometimes you have to make a judgement you don't like the result of.
I like that she covered that you do what you think is legally right, and that may involve opinions (such as what you believe to be in a child's best interests) but your personal opinions shouldn't override the law. Such as if the law makes it clear it's wrong, it doesn't matter if you don't like that. It's the law you're judging, not whether you like the law or not. Sometimes you have to make a judgement you don't like the result of.
January 12, 2022
This was a bit of a whim read after listening to Lady Hale's interview on the How to Fail podcast which shed some light on her fascinating career and made me want to explore this further in her full memoir. Although Spider Woman is understandably heavy on the legal content, it's a thorough and entertaining exploration of women in public service and the barriers they face (and continue to face) so is an easily enjoyable read for those of us not in the legal profession. Lady Hale explains the legal terms and context in a very clear way also which helps make it accessible. Her reflections on her own achievements and challenges, as well as how the British parliamentary and legal systems serve - or fail to serve - women and modern society are astute and thoughtful. I only dropped it down a star because I felt it wasn't necessarily as poetically or engagingly written as some other memoirs I've read but in a way I quite enjoyed Lady Hale's to the point writing! A wonderful book for anyone interested in public service, the law and feminism.
July 4, 2023
Lady Hale is undoubtedly a feminist icon worthy of admiration and I am glad I learned more about her through this read, but in my opinion this book lets her down. As a US lawyer, it was difficult for me to follow along with her achievements when this book spent so much time bogged down on minutiae (courtroom carpet designs? business travel to legal conferences?) and case summaries that buried the significance of her role and decisions. I had a hard time understanding how she came to occupy so many important roles as the first woman in them because the descriptions of those events seemed to consist primarily of casual conversations with her colleagues and intricate maneuvering over titles. Maybe it’s my background in US law and feminism, but I wish the book did more to highlight her bold speeches and incisive legal thinking, which I ended up learning more about from Wikipedia than reading her biography.
February 26, 2022
Lady Hale is a remarkable person having had a remarkable career and a pioneer in so many senses. My favourite Supreme Court justice, now retired. I really enjoyed reading about her early life and some of the highlights from her legal career. It was written as a lawyer would write a book (and that comes from a lawyer) and so at times felt a little inaccessible. You often lost the sense of who Lady Hale is and how she has become who she is and how that has influenced her. It felt at points like a tightly curated recital of facts rather than offering real insight into who she is. That’s no reflection on the person, just the writing style. So interesting with some insights, but carefully expressed to be at arms length from the person.
March 22, 2022
I really enjoyed this autobiography, purely because I find Lady Hale so inspirational on both a personal and a professional level. She was a trailblazer for women in the legal field and absolutely smashed the glass ceilings above her. Of all of her incredible achievements, I most resonated to her work in family law and domestic abuse, especially her influence on The Children Act 1989. I also enjoyed her memoirs of her previous cases and even her shoutout to her time in Lincoln (my hometown!).
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the law or legal system and also to anyone with a keen interest in feminism. This was a really uplifting and inspirational read, the most important message is that women are equal to everything - women absolutely can!
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the law or legal system and also to anyone with a keen interest in feminism. This was a really uplifting and inspirational read, the most important message is that women are equal to everything - women absolutely can!
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