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Committed to fostering a culture of equality and diversity, we are passionate about supporting women in the workplace. Some of the ways we do this are through career progression, representation, and by celebrating the achievements of the outstanding women in our firm.
We asked some of the incredible women who make our firm what it is what they felt about International Women’s Day (IWD) 2023, and about working as women in the legal sector. Find out what they told us below.
This year, our firm’s Women’s Committee is also proud to be hosting an IWD panel event.
#EmbraceEquity
One of the things I enjoy most about working at KP Law is that I am surrounded by talented and knowledgeable female lawyers. When I joined the firm, I found it incredibly refreshing that I was working in a predominately female team.
My role model is my mum! She started out at a time when the legal profession was inhospitable to women, but she carved out a fantastic career in family law and is now a Judge in the Jersey courts.
She has been a ballast throughout my career so far and has always provided me with invaluable advice. She has always made me feel as though I can achieve anything.
When she tells me about the discrimination she faced when she started out, it makes me incredibly grateful for all the brilliant women who fought for their place in this profession and set out the path for today’s junior female lawyers.
I also have to mention all the fantastic women I met when studying law who are now all shining at their respective firms and in their respective practice areas. Seeing them succeed inspires me to no end.
IWD is important to me because we still have such a long way to go before we have gender equality in the work place. While great strides have been taken, there are still so many barriers to success. There are often expectations that women should speak and act a certain way, lest they be perceived as rude, bossy or aggressive – labels rarely applied to their male counterparts.
I am a trainee solicitor at KP Law and have just started my last seat. Over my training contract I have had the opportunity to work across the firm’s different offices, which has meant working with a huge variety of people. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from and work alongside a range of incredible paralegals and lawyers who have had very varied careers. In particular, I am extremely thankful for the support of the female associates and legal directors, whose guidance has been invaluable.
I am lucky enough to have so many role models who have inspired me. One of my biggest role models is my grandma. She was the first female in my family to go to university. For part of her career, she taught at a remand home for girls. She was always there for them and provided them with guidance so they could achieve as much as possible despite their circumstances.
I think this is particularly poignant as the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “Embrace Equity”. While equality and equity are both important concepts in promoting fairness, equity is often considered more important than equality because it takes into account individual differences and seeks to address systemic inequalities and barriers that prevent certain groups from achieving equal outcomes.
International Women’s Day is important because it serves as a reminder of the progress that has been made towards gender equality while also acknowledging the work that still needs to be done. It is also a time to recognise women’s contributions to society in various fields, including law.
What I most enjoy about my role within the Finance team at KP Law is being a part of a function which collaborates with all the departments and office locations. It means that is different, fast-paced and varied, which definitely keeps me on my toes.
I also enjoy being able to apply my finance experience and knowledge to the operations of a law firm. I have always had an interest in both sectors and this role allows me to have that hybrid. Both sectors are also intrinsically linked in the way they are regulated.
Equally, my knowledge has grown since beginning in this role 18 months ago. It has been rewarding to see the journey the firm has gone through within that time frame. From seeing individual case settlements beginning to trickle in, to large group action cases coming to fruition.
One of my female role models is Jacinda Arden. She has led New Zealand through a natural disaster, the Christchurch terrorist attack, the Covid pandemic, and given birth whilst in office. All whilst under press scrutiny.
Jacinda has dealt with all this with such compassion, calmness, clarity and dignity. She has recently made the difficult decision to step down from her role and given priority to her family commitments.
I believe she is one of the greatest female leaders of all time and embodies all the traits everyone should aspire to. When I feel as though I am having a tough day and life is throwing lemons at me. I think of what Jacinda’s approach was when dealing with these very real and tough situations.
As a woman who has worked in finance roles within industries such as financial services, engineering and FTSE 100 companies, it has been no secret that there is a gender imbalance in the finance sector. Challenges I have faced include gender bias and being stereotyped. Being of the opposite gender to the majority in the room, I would often feel the need to prove myself which would result in overworking.
IWD is important to me, within the professional landscape, because it celebrates women’s achievements. It allows firms to hone into what steps they have taken to catapult the advancement in women’s equality within their structure. For example, in the financial services space they have launched the ‘Women In Finance Charter’.
It has been great to have had a positive experience at KP Law by being a part of a finance team which exhibits a ‘go-getter’ attitude. Our senior has given us knowledgeable advice, support and encourages professional development. Who you are surrounded by makes a real difference.
International Women’s Day is an incredibly important day for me to celebrate the amazing achievements of women all around the world. Each year we celebrate with the goal of promoting gender equality and empowering women.
Here are a few reasons why International Women’s Day is so important to me:
To celebrate women’s accomplishments: International Women’s Day gives us a chance to honour and recognise the fantastic contributions that women make in various fields, including politics, business, education, healthcare, and social work. It’s a time to celebrate their successes and highlight the amazing things they’re doing to make our world a better place.
To raise awareness about gender inequality: Even though there has been progress in women’s rights, we still face gender inequalities globally. International Women’s Day helps to bring attention to these injustices, including unequal pay, lack of access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, gender-based violence, and discrimination.
To promote gender equality and empower women: Each year, International Women’s Day has a different theme that reflects the current issues women face worldwide. This day helps to promote gender equality and empower women by advocating for policy changes, supporting women’s rights movements, and providing resources and funding for gender-related programs.
To inspire future generations: International Women’s Day inspires young girls and future generations of women to dream big and follow their passions. By highlighting women’s achievements, this day encourages young girls to pursue their dreams, no matter what anyone else says.
Overall, International Women’s Day is a special day that promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment. It’s a time to celebrate women’s accomplishments, raise awareness about gender inequalities and inspire future generations to achieve their goals.
I enjoy the range of opportunities that have been offered to me as part of my job role. Throughout my time on the Client Services Team, I have been offered many development opportunities where I was able to learn more about law, data protection, quality control and team training. I really enjoy learning new things and I feel that the opportunities provided to me by KP Law have positively contributed to my personal and professional development.
My female role model is my mum. She has continually supported and encouraged me, and, when I was growing up, was instrumental in showing that having a good work ethic always pays off. I really admire how my mum can find a good solution for every problem: this is a skill that I hope to develop further in my role also. She inspires me to bring my best self to work every day, and to think positively in every situation.
International Women’s Day is important to me as it allows us all to celebrate the global achievements of women. However, I also find that IWD highlights that we still have more work to do in terms of women’s rights and opportunities, and how we all need to keep striving for equality.
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