Our first female High Court chief justice

The High Court will have its first woman chief justice from 2017.

Susan Kiefel is set to become the High Court's first female chief justice - effective from January. Source: AAP

WHO IS SUSAN KIEFEL

* Susan Mary Kiefel, 62, will become the High Court's first female chief justice, replacing Robert French who is retiring.

* She qualified as a barrister after working with a firm of solicitors as a legal clerk and completing her education at night.

* She completed a Master of Laws at the University of Cambridge in 1984.

* She was the first woman in Queensland to be appointed Queen's Counsel, in 1987.

* Served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1993-94 before joining the Federal Court (1994-2007).

* Appointed to the High Court in 2007, becoming the third woman elevated to the bench and the 46th overall.

* Her appointment alongside incumbent Justice Susan Crennan marked the first time two women sat concurrently on the High Court.

* Appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2011.