Cornelia Sorabji First Woman Lawyer
Cornelia’s Father Sorabji Karsedjii and Mother Francina Ford made sure all their children received an English education despite disapproval from many of the society. After studying at mission schools Cornelia enrolled at Deccan College, Pune. But she had to face opposition from her peers and professors. Boys in her class would often slam classroom doors in her to discourage her from attending classes. But she was determined. Pursued literature and graduated with a first-class degree in 1888, becoming the first woman to graduate from Mumbai university.
She topped her class. but was denied the Oxford scholarship that was usually given to the topper of the year. Sorabji wrote to some influential English women in Mumbai and Pune, for assistance. With their help, she traveled to London in 1889 and joined the prestigious Somerville college at Oxford university there, becoming the first woman to study law at oxford. In 1892, she became the first woman to pass a bachelor of civil law from oxford university. But Oxford withheld her degree because women were still not allowed to register as advocates.
Disheartened, she returned to India in 1894 but the situation back home was the same. She wanted to help the pard Nasheen woman who had to be behind veils at all times and were not allowed to talk to anyone apart from their families. Cornelia wasn’t allowed to defend them in courts but was given special permission to enter pleas on their behalf, before British Lawyers. in 1896, Cornella Became the first woman in the British Empire to plead before a British judge. she defended a murder accused and won the case.
She completed her LLB from Mumbai university in 1897 and the pleader’s exam of Allahabad High Court in 1899. But she was still not recognized as a barrister. She was often mocked for her service but Cornelis did not give up. 1907 Onward She also assisted in Bihar, Odisha, and Assam. In 1920, Oxford university finally started awarding degrees to women. And London Bar too opened doors for women. With law degrees to practice law. 30 years later – Cornelia traveled to London once again, in 1920.
To collect her degree. Two years later, she was called to the London Bar. In 1924, even India opened its courtrooms for women. Cornelia returned to Calcutta and enrolled as a barrister at the High Court, becoming the first woman to practice law in India too. She gave up Indian legal practice in 1929 and devoted herself to social work. Two years later, she moved to London. Cornelia passed away on 6 July 1954 at the age of 88. In 2012, a bust of her was unveiled in London. On her 150th birth anniversary in 1016, Somerville college launched the Cornelia Sorabji Scholarship law. A Google doodle was also created to celebrate her 150th birthday on 15 Nov. 2017.
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