In 2026, Lithuania will commemorate a landmark event in its legal history – the 100th anniversary of the appointment of the country's first female judge, Elena Jackevičaitė. To mark this occasion, Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) will host the international conference "Women in Law: celebrating 100 years since the first female judge in Lithuania" on 16 October 2026. The conference will bring together representatives of leading national and international legal institutions, academics, legal professionals, students, and experts in gender equality.
A century ago, Elena Jackevičaitė's appointment as Lithuania's first female judge marked a significant milestone in the development of the country's legal system and the advancement of women's professional opportunities. While the role of women in the legal profession has changed profoundly over the past 100 years, questions of leadership, equal opportunities, and representation in the highest judicial and legal positions remain highly relevant in Lithuania and across Europe.
The conference aims not only to commemorate this historic anniversary but also to foster broader discussions on progress in gender equality, judicial independence, inclusive leadership, and the future challenges facing both the legal profession and academia.
The event is organised by Mykolas Romeris University, in partnership with the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, the Research Council of Lithuania (RCL), and the European Women Rectors Association (EWORA) – an international organisation bringing together women academic leaders across Europe and promoting gender equality in higher education and research.
One of the conference's keynote speakers will be Kateřina Šimáčková, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights. She will deliver a keynote address on the protection of human rights, the role of courts in democratic societies, and the importance of women's leadership in contemporary law. The conference will also feature discussions with leaders of Lithuania's highest legal institutions, judges from Lithuania and across Europe, members of the academic community, and representatives of partner organisations.
A special session will be dedicated to the historical legacy of Lithuania's first female judge. Dr Dovilė Sagatienė, Associate Professor at the MRU Law School, will present new archival research on Elena Jackevičaitė's professional career, her contribution to the development of Lithuania's legal system, and the broader context of women's participation in the legal profession in the early twentieth century. Her presentation will complement discussions on how historical experience can inspire today's and tomorrow's legal professionals.
"This anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on women's path into legal education and the legal profession, to recognise the progress that has been achieved, and to discuss the challenges that still lie ahead," says Dr Dovilė Sagatienė, Associate Professor at the MRU Law School and initiator of the conference.
The conference is intended for judges, prosecutors, lawyers, academics, law students, representatives of public institutions, non-governmental organisations working in the field of gender equality, and everyone interested in the development of the legal system and the strengthening of democratic institutions.
Date: 16 October 2026
Venue: Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Gedimino Ave. 53, Vilnius, Lithuania
Programme and registration will be announced soon.
The event is funded by the Research Council of Lithuania under the Research Events Funding Programme (Project No. P-MOR-26-20).
