 By early 1918 , British women who had attained the age of 30 were given the right to vote and hold office . Following the passing of the Sex Disqualification ( Removal ) Act 1919 , which enabled women to become members of the legal profession , Macmillan applied to Middle Temple as a pupil barrister . She was called to the bar on 28 January 1924 and in 1926 joined the Western Circuit , becoming only the second women to be elected to its Bar Mess . Between then and 1929 she acted as counsel for defence in the six cases in which she appeared on the Circuit , and she took 65 cases in the North London Session courts between 1927 and 1936 . From 1929 , she appeared at the Central Criminal Court in five cases for the prosecution , and one for defence [ court books ] . There are no records available for her civil cases . As she was studying for the bar , she co @-@ founded the Open Door Council for the repeal of legal restraints on women . Macmillan worked to lift restrictions and so give women of all stations an equal opportunity in the workplace . NUWSS was re @-@ organised in 1918 as the National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship , but Macmillan disagreed with the group 's stance on protective legislation for women workers . In 1929 , she co @-@ founded a global group , the Open Door International for the Economic Emancipation of the Woman Worker — she served as president of this group until her death . 
