Belle Hay Patrick (22 August 1895 – 1972) was one of the first three women to become a lawyer in Scotland. However, despite qualifying in 1925, she never practiced as a lawyer, but rather focused her attention on missionary work in Algiers.^[1]

Patrick was born in Anstruther. She gained a scholarship to attend the local Waid Academy from the age of 9, and then a bursary to attend the University of St Andrews.^[1] However, at the insistence of her mother she found work with the legal firm of Mackintosh and Watson in the neighbouring village of Pittenweem.^[2]

In 1924, before qualifying as a lawyer, Patrick met Lilias Trotter in St Andrews. She remained in Scotland until her qualification as a lawyer was confirmed. The following day, she booked her passage to Algiers where Trotter had become bedridden.