Spider Woman - Lady Hale

If you are looking for a book that tells the inspiring story of one of the most influential women in the UK's legal system, you might want to consider Spider Woman: Lady Hale, a Life. The book is a biography of Brenda Hale, the first and only woman to serve as president of the UK Supreme Court. In this review, I will give an overview of the book's main themes and my personal opinion on how it portrays Lady Hale's remarkable career and achievements.

Some of the main themes that the book explores are the challenges and achievements of women in law, the creation and the role and function of the UK Supreme Court, the importance of judicial independence and impartiality, and the impact of Lady Hale's judgments on various areas of law and society.

The book also highlights some of Lady Hale's achievements, such as being the first and only woman to be appointed as a Law Lord, her appointment to the UK Supreme Court followed by her rise to sit as its Deputy President and then President, before that leading the Law Commission's work to produce the Children Act 1989, then becoming a non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong, and delivering the historic judgment that declared the prorogation of Parliament in 2019 unlawful.

But weaving its way through all the above is the fundamental theme - imposter syndrome. Lady Hale's personal background is relatively humble. She describes her childhood in some detail and explores how the fact that she is not from the usual mould which most commonly produces senior judges in the UK caused self doubt at almost every stage of her prestigious career and beyond. It is for this reason I found the book most engaging. I have long suffered the impact of imposter syndrome, in my life outside work and within - I don’t for one moment profess to share a career as accomplished as Lady Hale’s - but law is hard work, sometimes stymied by the sense of not belonging despite in some respects haling from a background in the law.

I have discussed my experiences with imposter syndrome with colleagues and friends and what I have learned is that most of them have experienced a nagging feeling of self-doubt, insecurity or inadequacy at some point in their career. Like me, they have wondered if they're are good enough, smart enough or qualified enough to do their jobs. This develops into a fear that they will be exposed as a fraud or a charlatan, despite having evidence of their excellent achievements and competence. It's a psychological phenomenon that affects many professionals, especially lawyers but reading about and learning the impact that it has had on lawyers at at the top, such as Lady Hale, has somehow helped me to begin to note and accept my imposter syndrome.

There are several factors that can contribute to imposter syndrome among lawyers. The highly-pressured and competitive nature of the legal profession, which demands excellence, accuracy and accountability from its practitioners is perhaps the major contributor. Another is the social and cultural expectations that lawyers face, such as gender stereotypes, diversity issues, or being the first in their family or background to enter the profession. A third factor is the lack of feedback or recognition that lawyers often receive for their work, which can make them feel undervalued or unappreciated - any lawyers reading this will recognise the phrase 'no news is good news' and 'more of the same' in the context of performance reviews.

So how can lawyers overcome imposter syndrome and break the cycle of self-doubt? There are several strategies that can help, both at an individual and an organisational level. Lady Hale's personal skirmishes with imposter syndrome seem to have been won by:

• Recognising and acknowledging imposter syndrome when it occurs;
• Challenging negative thoughts and beliefs with positive affirmations and evidence of achievements;
• Seeking constructive feedback and mentorship from colleagues or peers;
• Celebrating successes and achievements, both big and small; and
• Practising self-care and mindfulness to reduce stress and anxiety.
• Embracing her default resting face - a smile.

I have recently found that by recognising it, understanding it - by researching and reading about it - and taking action to overcome it, I'm on the way to breaking the leash and releasing my full potential - one hopes.

The book covers Lady Hale's remarkable career, from her humble origins in Yorkshire to her groundbreaking achievements in law and academia. It reveals sensitive details about her personal life, including her marriage, divorce, remarriage, and motherhood. Ultimately it paints a vivid portrait of a brilliant, compassionate, and courageous woman who has made a lasting impact on the British legal system and society all whilst fighting a battle with self doubt.