This international women’s day the theme is #EachforEqual urging all of us to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women’s achievements. Law Image is committed to gender equality and we would like to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women in class actions in Australia. We will feature women lawyers and barristers in association with Slater and Gordon Lawyers and the WBA (Women Barristers’ Association). Our feature will share their inspiration, how they overcome challenges, their advice for women who are looking at a career in the legal industry and their perspectives on how we can achieve a gender-neutral world. Join us as we celebrate #WomenInClassActions
Who is your inspiration and why?
I am inspired by many people, but particularly by my clients. I have acted for people who have had very tough lives, brought up in poverty, with limited educational opportunities. Often, they are migrants or refugees, who have left their homes, communities, and countries due to war or hunger, and shown great enterprise in starting new lives. Then through someone else’s negligence, they suffer very serious life-changing and sometimes life ending disability and illness. I am deeply moved by the bravery, generosity and grace I see so many people display in the face of great suffering.
How do you deal with challenges / obstacles?
I get by with a little help from my friends and colleagues. Making and belonging to a community is crucial, at home and at work. I find the key is to always notice what you have, and think about how you can make the most of what you have, and not focus on what you don’t.
Your advice to women interested in pursuing a career in the legal industry
Find the woman mentor who is right for you- it almost always helps to talk about your experiences, and to hear that others have felt and experienced similar things. You are not alone. Have lots of great women in your professional world, so that you can support one another (and have fun). Beware of imposter syndrome- remember, you are probably your own harshest critic- try not to be. No one else has all the answers, either. Keep striving.
Your views on how we can enable a gender-equal / gender-neutral world
The single most important issue is that women still do the vast majority of unpaid work in the world, including caring work. This impacts women’s working lives in profound ways and contributes to the gender pay gap. The “mental load” of being largely responsible for the smooth functioning of the domestic sphere is a great burden. To truly address this issue, we need unpaid work to be shared and to ensure access to high quality paid caring services- whose workers are properly paid for their crucial work. We must not advance one group of women at the expense of another. We are all better and stronger if change lifts us all.
Who is your inspiration and why?
Right now Jacinda Ardern. She is such a strong, compassionate and principled leader who is able to communicate clearly and empathetically to her constituents. She has handled so many crises that have occurred on her watch (from natural disasters to terrorism to now the coronavirus pandemic), all while being pregnant and then nurturing and caring for a baby. As a relatively new mum myself, I am in awe that she has been able to lead the country through these times with such clarity and decisiveness. She is an excellent example of how qualities that are typically perceived as female (compassion) and therefore “weak” are actually strengths in leadership.
How do you deal with challenges / obstacles?
I think of myself as a big picture person so I like to look at challenges and obstacles in their greater context and think of creative solutions to them. Starting the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival over 13 years ago was basically a way for me to deal with the challenge of engaging the general public about human rights in a creative and fun way.
Your advice to women interested in pursuing a career in the legal industry
Believe in yourself, create supportive networks, be kind and respectful, don’t let “failure” (whatever that might mean to you) undermine your confidence – instead use it as a learning tool, find a mentor, become a mentor and always pay it forward, work out your own way to make a difference.
Your views on how we can enable a gender-equal / gender-neutral world
We all need to understand and become educated about how gender inequality was built into our various social systems historically, and how they still exist in similar forms today. That way, we can understand why and how things need to change. I also feel that everyone one of us as individuals can self-reflect on our own biases (whether on gender or race or class or otherwise and whether unconscious or conscious) as well as our own privileges so that we can recognise how they affect our own worldview and thinking. I think if we all did this, we would all have a little more humility and an openness to challenge such biases both at an individual and systemic level.
Who is your inspiration and why?
Former State Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Jim Kennan SC (with whom I completed a school work experience placement), for his humility and compassion towards individuals from all walks of life.
How do you deal with challenges / obstacles?
By adopting the mindset that the challenge is an opportunity to learn and an opportunity to rely on support networks (such as colleagues) for advice and perspective.
Your advice to women interested in pursuing a career in the legal industry
Give your time and energy to the areas of the law that you are passionate about and you will be rewarded (personally and professionally).
Your views on how we can enable a gender-equal / gender-neutral world
By promoting individuals on the basis of merit.
Who is your inspiration and why?
This is such a challenging question to answer – there are so many fiercely intelligent, insightful, and compassionate female leaders out there! If I had to choose one, I would say Julia Gillard in delivering her iconic speech calling out misogyny and entrenched prejudice against women. Not only was the speech itself unforgettable, but the courage it would take to call out systemic sexist, racist, gender-based or any other form of discrimination or prejudice, on a national stage no less, is incredibly inspiring.
How do you deal with challenges / obstacles?
I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by a team of incredibly talented and very supportive lawyers in my team. I usually find that a collaborative approach can be the best way to solve a particularly challenging problem! It seems that the most creative or novel solution can be developed when many heads consider a problem together.
Your advice to women interested in pursuing a career in the legal industry
Dive in! Be confident in your abilities, don’t compare yourself to others, and seek out opportunities that will stretch and challenge your professional capabilities. Network hard, work harder and take the time to celebrate with your colleagues when there is something to celebrate! Law practice can be gruelling, but also incredibly rewarding.
Your views on how we can enable a gender-equal / gender-neutral world
It is everyone’s responsibility to create a respectful, gender-equal world. Be kind to one another. Call out prejudice, sexism, gender-based and other types of discrimination when you encounter it, and wherever possible, be an active interventionist as a bystander when you see this behaviour play out in front of you. We all have a part to play.
Who is your inspiration and why?
My mother and grandmothers inspire me with their strength in times of adversity. I can only hope to be as strong as they are!
Julia Gillard, because she stood up to the patriarchy after enduring sexism and misogyny from her political opponents, the media and the public.
How do you deal with challenges / obstacles?
I find that talking about my challenges with my husband, friends, family and colleagues has two positive effects – I end up with good advice and a load off my chest and those I’m sharing with are encouraged to do the same.
Your advice to women interested in pursuing a career in the legal industry
Believe in yourself or no one else will. Go for the job even if you think you’re not good enough for it – men usually do! Don’t feel the need to be tougher and ‘masculine’ or softer and ‘feminine’ at work, just be you.
Your views on how we can enable a gender-equal / gender-neutral world
By encouraging the women in our lives to reach their full potential, standing up for women who don’t have a voice and challenging the people in our lives who continue to perpetuate outdated gender norms.
Who is your inspiration and why?
I’m most inspired by leaders who pursue fairness and are able to flourish in the face of adversity. The law is not inherently just, and Charlie Perkins, Sally McManus, Bryan Stevenson and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are all amazing advocates who have managed to change the public conversation around discrimination and civil rights, hold strong and win important victories for the groups they represent.
How do you deal with challenges / obstacles?
It’s a constantly evolving process and I’m still improving, but I’ve found taking a deep breath and re-reading the document again to be the first step! I’ll then do the work as far as I can take it on my own by writing up the issues and outlining some possible solutions to consider, and then drop into a colleague’s office to sound out the options further and draw from their expertise as well. Making sure there’s enough time to see family and friends and take a walk outside has also been important for me to keep healthy.
Your advice to women interested in pursuing a career in the legal industry
The law can be an incredibly stimulating profession, and I love being kept intellectually ‘on my toes’. When I started working in the law I was anxious about performing well enough, but some lovely advice that was given to me was that there is no one way to be a good lawyer, and a strong legal team is made of an array of different abilities that complement each other. I feel like I’ve found a good fit in class actions, where I can exercise my strengths in thinking creatively and strategically. If you’re passionate about the law you’ll find the right home for you too – so go for it.
Your views on how we can enable a gender-equal / gender-neutral world
I think equal pay is the most pressing issue to achieve gender equity. Addressing this has to come from a better understanding of the structural biases that mean women are underpaid across the board; from working in chronically underfunded care based jobs like social work, nursing and childcare, to financially incentivising women to stay at home after childbirth because they will be poorer if they return to work, to the way businesses measure success in a workplace which prevent women accelerating as far as their male peers. The whole rubric of work for women needs to be reassessed – and we need a government to take the lead.
Who is your inspiration and why?
Without a doubt, my biggest inspiration has always been by mum. I’ve watched my mum overcome many obstacles in her own life and always put the needs of others before her own. I was the first person in my immediate family to attend university and this would not have been possible without my mum’s ongoing selflessness and support.
How do you deal with challenges / obstacles?
When I’m faced with challenges, I always try to approach the obstacle with a clear head. I find that it can be useful to break the obstacle down into smaller pieces so that it becomes easier to succeed. Sometimes it is best to take some time away from the problem to ensure that I approach it with a positive attitude.
Your advice to women interested in pursuing a career in the legal industry
I strongly encourage women who are interested in pursuing a career in the legal industry to attend networking events and connect with other women who work in the areas of law that interest them. Learning about the experiences of other women in the industry can be a great first step in paving a career of your own. I’ve been fortunate to be mentored by many talented female lawyers, which has greatly assisted my own career development.
Your views on how we can enable a gender-equal / gender-neutral world
I’m proud to work on cutting edge class actions at Slater and Gordon. In this role, I advocate for women who we allege have suffered harm because of the Essure contraceptive device as well as alleged victims of former gynaecologist,
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