Choosing law as a profession is not an easy road to follow. It has some additional difficulties for women, primarily because of the culture that has developed within the practice of the law and the male dominated hierarchy within private firms involving few senior women. Traditionally, there has been a belief that the proportion of women practising law and holding senior positions will increase as a direct result of the increasing number of female graduates and junior lawyers. However, this filter effect regarded by some as inevitable, is not happening. Although the number of women practising law at junior levels has proportionately increased, the number practising at senior levels has not.
There are clearly many women (and some men) lawyers who consider that there are significant gender related workplace and career issues that need to be addressed. Whether it be sexual harassment, lack of flexibility in work practices, or an entrenched workplace culture which excludes women from many of the client contact and career advancement opportunities, there does seem to be a gap.
A professional group which recognises those issues as being predominantly ones faced by women lawyers, and provides women with a supportive environment in which to discuss and address those issues, is seen as a significant step in the profession. An opportunity for information exchange, further examination of specific issues, networking and social interaction must also be seen as a positive development.
Victorian Women Lawyers aims to assist female lawyers in achieving a satisfying, successful professional life whatever their particular and personal definition of success might be.
Objectives of Victorian Women Lawyers:
- to provide a common meeting ground for women lawyers
- to foster the continuing education and development of women lawyers in all matters of legal interest;
- to encourage and provide for the entry of women into the legal profession and their advancement within the legal profession;
- to work towards the reform of the law;
- to participate as a body in matters of interest to the legal profession;
- to promote the understanding and support of women's legal and human rights; and
- such other objectives as the Association may in General Meeting decide.
Further, the Association also adopts the objectives of the Australian Women Lawyers and is a Recognised Organisation of the Association:
- to achieve justice and equality for all women;
- to further understanding of and support for the legal rights of all women;
- to identify, highlight and eradicate discrimination against women in law and in the legal system;
- to advance equality for women in the legal profession;
- to create and enhance awareness of women's contribution to the practice and development of the law; and
- to provide a professional and social network for women lawyers.