.png)
Chapter 5
Professor Jo Delahunty
One of the UK’s leading family barristers specialising in child protection law and has won many industry awards and is identified as leading London Silk in the industry bibles.
However, hidden behind these markers of career progression is the fact that Jo comes (proudly) from a single parent family, went to comprehensive schools and was the first member of her family to stay in education beyond the age of sixteen. Her careers advisor suggested she was bright enough to apply to work in a bank but not front of house as she had ‘attitude’ and suggested that she did not go to university.
Thank God Jo’s mum saw the potential of her child and gave her the roots to grow and the wings to fly. This wonderful woman, whom we admire and love in equal measure, is probably one of the most important Brilliant Minds that I have ever met.
By Harvey Thorneycroft
Chapter 5: Professor Jo Delahunty
Now I do not know whether it is a coincidence, but Professor Jo Delahunty, who is a Leading UK barrister, Judge and Professor of Law, also comes from a similar background and is probably one of the best communicators that I have every come across.
Jo was called to the bar in 1986, took silk in 2006, became a part-time judge in 2009 and was made the Gresham Professor of Law in 2016. She now has the Freedom of the City of London, presented by the Lord Mayor at a special ceremony on the 13th of March 2019, to mark her contribution to the Law and for being prepared to raise and challenge judicial bullying and sexual harassment in the profession.
She is one of the UK’s leading family barristers specialising in child protection law and has won many industry awards and is identified as leading London Silk in the industry bibles.
However, hidden behind these markers of career progression is the fact that Jo comes (proudly) from a single parent family, went to comprehensive schools and was the first member of her family to stay in education beyond the age of sixteen. She explained in a Gresham college lecture in October 2017 that her careers advisor suggested she was bright enough to apply to work in a bank but not front of house as she had ‘attitude’ and suggested that she did not go to university.
Continue reading