Frances Moran facts for kids
Frances Elizabeth Moran (born December 6, 1893 – died October 7, 1977) was a very important Irish lawyer and expert in law. She taught law as a professor at Trinity College, Dublin (TCD) for many years. She became a qualified lawyer in Ireland in 1924 and in England in 1940.
Frances Moran was the first woman ever to teach law at a university in Ireland. She was also the first woman to become a full professor at Trinity College Dublin. She made history again by becoming the first woman in Ireland, and even across the whole British Isles, to be named a Senior Counsel in 1941. This is a special title for experienced lawyers.
Early Life and Education
Frances Moran was born in Dublin, Ireland, on December 6, 1893. She was the second daughter of James Moran, who was a businessman and a politician.
She went to an all-girls school in Dublin called Dominican College Sion Hill. In 1911, she started studying French and English at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and finished her first degree in 1915. She then continued her studies at TCD, focusing on law. She earned her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 1918 and her Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree in 1919.
Career as a Lawyer
Frances Moran became a qualified lawyer in Ireland in 1924. This means she was "called to the Irish Bar". Later, in 1940, she also qualified to practice law in England at Gray's Inn.
On May 9, 1941, she became the first woman in Ireland to be named a Senior Counsel. This is a very high honor for a lawyer. It meant she was the first woman in the entire British Isles to achieve this special status. As a lawyer, she mostly worked on property deals, called conveyancing, and did not often appear in court.
Teaching Law at Trinity College
From 1925 to 1930, Frances Moran was the Reid Professor of Criminal Law at Trinity College, Dublin (TCD). This was a big achievement because she was the first woman to teach law at a university in Ireland. She was also the first woman to hold a full professorship, or "chair," at TCD.
She continued her important work at Trinity College, serving as the Regius Professor of Laws from 1944 to 1963. In 1968, she made history once more by becoming the first woman to be made an honorary fellow of Trinity College Dublin. This is a special title given to people who have made outstanding contributions.
