In celebration of International Women’s Day, we share the thoughts about International Women’s Day and practising law in-house from five of our members.
Edwina Stevenson
Senior Lawyer - Corporate, Pernod Ricard
What does International Women’s Day mean to you and is it important that we have one? It makes us stop and think about how far women have come…but also where we want to go next.
What are some of the great things about being a woman in law? The collegiate environment and the pride my fellow female lawyers feel for one another’s achievements. I find my network to be a fantastic resource for sharing my professional and personal challenges in a way that is unlike other professions, and that has helped me achieve my goals. It is very rewarding to work alongside people who don’t accept mediocrity.
Law has historically been a male-dominated industry however the number of females practising law is increasing. Do you see this in your line of work? The attrition rate for women is high. Eleven years ago, I left private practice, swearing I would never, ever be a lawyer again, and I became a freelance writer. A few years, later, I returned as an in-house lawyer, and it was the best decision I ever made. My female-lawyer friends have, in the majority, moved away from traditional lawyer roles. We all had our reasons, but the lack of flexibility in law-firm life was the predominant one. I studied law because I enjoy interacting with people and I love language. Being in a law firm did not adequately satisfy either of those needs; in-house life does. I hope that women are leaving the traditional lawyer roles by choice, and because it does not meet their needs, and that they have found career satisfaction elsewhere. But perhaps if we really want to know the answer to the question of “why are there less women in law”, we should be asking men why they persist with it.
Based on your own experience, what advice would you give to women considering pursuing a career as an in-house lawyer? Go for it! And become a member of ACC, of course.
What is the driving force behind everything you do…what keeps you motivated and driven on an everyday basis? I enjoy helping people by solving problems. The law can be a stressful, overwhelming minefield, and it’s very rewarding to help my colleagues navigate it to a commercial outcome.
Who has been the biggest influence of your success? My parents, my husband and my colleagues. They have always encouraged and inspired me through their own experiences and their support. When you’re surrounded by people who want the best for you, it ends up with you wanting the best for yourself.
Who are your female icons? Every single woman who speaks-up for change – whether in a public or private environment – is inspiring and is deserving of icon status. There’s Ashley Judd for speaking-up on sexual harassment…there’s my friend who left an abusive marriage…there’s my manager who offers her team a flexible and supportive working environment every single day. They all make our society a better place to be.
How you define women empowerment? We can choose who we want to be.
What message would you like to leave for both men and women on International Women’s Day? Achieving equality should not be a battle. We should all be on the same side.
