Mary Scott Orr was one of the first hundred women to graduate in Law from the University of Glasgow and one of the few to complete all the steps required to gain admission to the profession as a solicitor. She was born on 27th December 1914 in Hamilton where her father, Donald, was a solicitor. She matriculated in 1933 and begin her studies for the B.L. Although she passed only one subject, Public International Law, at the first diet she kept the goal in sight and graduated in 1938. Having completed her apprenticeship and passed all exams, including those set by the Law Society, she lost no time in petitioning the Court of Session for admission to practise as a solicitor, granted in January 1939. She remained in practice in Hamilton to retirement and died there in 1987, aged 72.
Sources
University of Glasgow Registry and General Council Records
Scotlands People
Law Lists
CoSS Petitions List
