The Supreme Court has appointed its only female justice – Baroness Hale of Richmond – as deputy president, following the retirement of Lord Hope.

Hale will take up the role on 28 June, succeeding Hope, who has been deputy president of the court since it opened in 2009.

The appointment comes after an independent selection commission considered applications from candidates including other current justices of the Supreme Court.

Hale became the UK's first female Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in January 2004, after five years sitting in the Court of Appeal and five years as a High Court judge. She has long championed the cause of diversity in the legal profession, and in 2010 described the Bar as "the least family friendly profession in the world".

Hale said: "It is an honour and a privilege to have been chosen to follow Lord Hope, who has made such a success of the role in the transition from the House of Lords to the Supreme Court. I look forward to continuing and building upon the work which he has done to establish this great new institution in our national life."

She will work alongside Supreme Court president Lord Neuberger and chief executive Jenny Rowe, who manages the court's administration.

Neuberger said: "Lady Hale brings an exceptional range of experience from almost 20 years as a senior judge, following time spent in academia and law reform work. Throughout that time she has made significant contribution to the development of the law in many areas, particularly in family and mental health. She has also done much to promote the importance of diversity in the judiciary. I look forward to working closely with her."

Hale taught law at Manchester University, qualifying as a barrister and practising at the Manchester Bar. Her specialism is in family and social welfare law and in 1984 became the first woman to be appointed to the Law Commission.

In February this year three new Justices of the Supreme Court were appointed, with Lord Justice Hughes, Lord Justice Toulson and Lord Hodge all joining the bench.