Equality
Sun Media
The head of the Supreme Court of Canada the Honourable Beverly Mclachlin state this week that while we do not have total equality of women and men in law, we are heading towards gender equality. She feels that women in the profession contribute significantly and should be actively encouraged to enter and remain in law.
I see the biggest issue as women remaining in the law. What I see is a lot of lawyers fleeing the profession because they are having an issue with work/life balance. I am certainly one of those people. I think it is hard for women in such a demanding profession to not feel like they are juggling. It is also hard to get rid of the guilt. You feel guilty for being at home when you should be working and vice versa.
From My Own Experience As A Personal Injury Lawyer
People always ask me “how do you do it”? They don’t ask my husband Jeremy whom I work with the same thing. The pressure on women to succeed in their work life and family life are forever prevalent. The way to keep women in this profession or any profession is to value them. You also need to understand the balance, which means sometimes we need more flexibility in our schedules. My associate will need to leave early for gymnastics on certain days but I know she is working from home later on after the kids are sleeping to make up for the lost time. That is not to be undervalued.
Women provide a unique perspective. It is important to encourage their success and presence in all professions. I know my firm works because Jeremy provides his view and I provide mine. That is why we advertise on the Bachelor and the NFL. I won’t tell you who picked which program.