Professor Aoife Nolan and Mary-Rachel McCabe shortlisted for Inspirational Women in Law Awards 2021

The Inspirational Women in Law Awards seek to identify individuals from across the legal profession who are leading the way in improving equality and diversity. Today, the Next 100 Years Project has announced the Finalists across eight categories, here. Doughty Street Chambers is delighted to congratulate Professor Aoife Nolan and Mary-Rachel McCabe, who have been announced as Finalists.

Professor Aoife Nolan is shortlisted in the category of ‘Legal Academic of the Year,’ a new category for the Inspirational Women in Law Awards this year. Aoife is an internationally recognised expert in human rights law, with a particular focus on economic and social rights and children's rights. She is Professor of International Human Rights Law at the School of the Law, University of Nottingham, where she is also Co-Director of the Human Rights Law Centre. In addition to her academic work, Professor Nolan has acted as an expert advisor to a wide range of international and national organisations and bodies working on human rights issues, including numerous UN Special Procedures, UN treaty bodies, the Council of Europe, the World Bank, multiple NHRIs and NGOs. She has been a member of the European Committee of Social Rights since 2017 and was elected its Vice-President in January 2021. Aoife co-leads Doughty Street Chambers' Children's Rights Group, which brings together barristers across all practice teams working on this crucial human rights issue. Read Aoife’s full profile here.

Mary-Rachel McCabe is shortlisted in the category of ‘Under 35 Lawyer of the Year.’ Mary-Rachel specialises in mental capacity, community care and housing law. She has a busy Court of Protection practice and regularly acts in cases concerning residence, care and deprivations of liberty.  She has particular expertise in hoarding cases, where her housing and mental capacity law expertise intersect, and in cases involving children or young adults with autism. She has a particular interest in disability and children’s rights, and she regularly acts in urgent judicial review proceedings for children who are street homeless or otherwise in need of support or accommodation. Prior to joining the Bar, Mary-Rachel worked as a paralegal in the youth justice and strategic litigation team at Just for Kids Law, and at Hackney Community Law Centre. Read Mary-Rachel’s full profile here.

The Inspirational Women in Law Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday 3 November 2021, 6-8pm, online. Details are available here.