Ethel Benjamin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ethel Benjamin
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| Born | 19 January 1875 Dunedin, New Zealand
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| Died | 14 October 1943 (aged 68) |
| Other names | De Costa |
| Alma mater | University of New Zealand |
| Occupation | Lawyer, businesswoman |
| Years active | 1897–1943 |
| Known for | New Zealand's first female lawyer |
Ethel Rebecca Benjamin (born 19 January 1875 – died 14 October 1943) was a truly special person. She became New Zealand's very first female lawyer! On 17 September 1897, she made history. She was the first woman in the entire British Empire to speak in court as a lawyer. She helped a client get back money they were owed. She was also the second woman in the British Empire to officially become a lawyer, just after Clara Brett Martin from Canada.
Ethel Benjamin's Early Life
Ethel Benjamin was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. Her parents, Lizzie Mark and Henry Benjamin, had moved there from England in the late 1860s. Her father, Henry, worked as a sharebroker in Dunedin. Ethel's family followed the Jewish faith. She was the oldest of seven children, with five sisters and two brothers.
Ethel went to Otago Girls' High School from 1883 to 1892. While at school, she was a very good student. She won a special award called the "Victoria" prize. This prize was given for being orderly, hardworking, and always on time. She also won a scholarship from the Education Board.
Becoming a Lawyer
In 1892, Ethel Benjamin won a university scholarship. In 1893, she started studying for a law degree (LLB) at the University of Otago. At that time, women were not allowed to work as lawyers. But Ethel believed things would change. She felt sure that New Zealand, being a fair country, would soon let women practice law.
Ethel graduated in July 1897 with excellent grades. Before she finished her studies, a new law was passed in 1896. This law was called the Female Law Practitioners Act. It meant women could finally become lawyers. On 10 May 1897, Ethel was officially allowed to work as a lawyer in New Zealand. She became both a barrister (who argues in court) and a solicitor (who handles legal paperwork).
When she graduated, Ethel was asked to speak for all the students. She joked that she had little time to prepare. She said that if she talked nonsense, people might just say, "Oh well, it is all that can be expected of a woman."
Ethel faced some challenges from the Otago District Law Society. For example, she was not always allowed to use their library. They also tried to tell her what to wear. Despite this, she opened her own successful law office in Princes Street. She mainly worked as a solicitor, helping people with legal documents.
Her cases often involved helping women with issues like divorce and adoption. She also helped hotels and pubs with rules about alcohol. Unlike many women's rights supporters at the time, she did not support banning alcohol. Ethel mostly helped clients from the Jewish community and women who needed financial advice.
Ethel Benjamin also helped start the Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and Children in 1899. She was the volunteer lawyer for this group.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1906, Ethel Benjamin moved to Christchurch. There, she managed a restaurant at a big event called the International Exhibition. In 1907, she married Alfred Mark Ralph De Costa, who was a sharebroker from Wellington. They moved to Wellington, and Ethel continued her law work. She started to focus on buying and selling property.
In 1908, the De Costas moved to England. During World War I, Ethel managed a bank in Sheffield. She also worked at a law firm. However, she could not fully practice law in England until a new law was passed in 1919. This law was called the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act. Between the two World Wars, Ethel and Alfred lived in France and Italy.
Alfred died just before World War II began. Ethel continued to work as a lawyer in London. Sadly, she was hit by a car by accident. She died from a head injury on 14 October 1943, at a hospital in Northwood, England.
Ethel Benjamin left an important mark on history. In 1997, the New Zealand Law Foundation created the Ethel Benjamin Prize for women. This prize celebrates 100 years since Ethel became New Zealand's first woman lawyer. As of 2007, this $20,000 NZD prize is given every year to two women. Past winners include Claudia Geiringer and Jessica Palmer.
A street in Dunedin was also named after her in 1993. It is called Ethel Benjamin Place. It is located near the University of Otago Central Library.
See also
- Cornelia Sorabji in India
- Eliza Orme in England
- First women lawyers around the world
- Ivy Williams in England
