*/
By Sally Penni
Independently published (March 2020), ISBN 979-8603267661, Paperback (295 pages)
Reviewed by David Wurtzel
2019 was the centenary of women being admitted to the legal profession. But even as we celebrated, we understood that the goal of equality on the bench and with practitioners is more than a numbers game. It requires a change in attitudes and work practices to allow men and women to be true equals in the law. This book comes from Women in the Law UK, a networking organisation which aims to encourage, inspire and support women in the legal profession.
Introduced by Dr Helen Pankhurst CBE, most of the book consists of a series of interview questions answered by dozens of women – and men – who range from a pupil to the former President of the Supreme Court. Some of these are barristers, but most are not. They cover the range of all the areas where women contribute to the law – solicitors with a number of specialisms and who are in-house lawyers or in firms, managing clerks, trainers, the first black President of the Law Society, and both partners and sole practitioners.
The respondents talk about their working lives, how they got to where they are, how they have worked to be where they can contribute most, and also their personal lives. The latter have been balanced with work, but not always in the same way. Finally, they are asked for their inspirational tips. There are a lot of these but there is no attempt to draw them together. This is wise. Readers will come to this book from different angles, but they should all find something which chimes with the challenges they individually face. It is noteworthy how many of the contributors came from backgrounds which a few decades ago one would not have associated with ‘lawyer’.
Anyone who has thought that they suffer from imposter syndrome should read this because the truth is that they really do belong in the profession.
David practised at the criminal Bar for 27 years and is a door tenant at 18 Red Lion Court. Prior to his retirement, he was a consultant in the CPD department at City Law School and consultant editor of Counsel. David is a member of the Counsel Editorial Board.
2019 was the centenary of women being admitted to the legal profession. But even as we celebrated, we understood that the goal of equality on the bench and with practitioners is more than a numbers game. It requires a change in attitudes and work practices to allow men and women to be true equals in the law. This book comes from Women in the Law UK, a networking organisation which aims to encourage, inspire and support women in the legal profession.
Introduced by Dr Helen Pankhurst CBE, most of the book consists of a series of interview questions answered by dozens of women – and men – who range from a pupil to the former President of the Supreme Court. Some of these are barristers, but most are not. They cover the range of all the areas where women contribute to the law – solicitors with a number of specialisms and who are in-house lawyers or in firms, managing clerks, trainers, the first black President of the Law Society, and both partners and sole practitioners.
The respondents talk about their working lives, how they got to where they are, how they have worked to be where they can contribute most, and also their personal lives. The latter have been balanced with work, but not always in the same way. Finally, they are asked for their inspirational tips. There are a lot of these but there is no attempt to draw them together. This is wise. Readers will come to this book from different angles, but they should all find something which chimes with the challenges they individually face. It is noteworthy how many of the contributors came from backgrounds which a few decades ago one would not have associated with ‘lawyer’.
Anyone who has thought that they suffer from imposter syndrome should read this because the truth is that they really do belong in the profession.
By Sally Penni
Independently published (March 2020), ISBN 979-8603267661, Paperback (295 pages)
Reviewed by David Wurtzel
Chair of the Bar reflects on 2025
Q&A with criminal barrister Nick Murphy, who moved to New Park Court Chambers on the North Eastern Circuit in search of a better work-life balance
Revolt Cycling in Holborn, London’s first sustainable fitness studio, invites barristers to join the revolution – turning pedal power into clean energy
Rachel Davenport, Co-founder and Director at AlphaBiolabs, reflects on how the company’s Giving Back ethos continues to make a difference to communities across the UK
By Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
AlphaBiolabs has made a £500 donation to Sean’s Place, a men’s mental health charity based in Sefton, as part of its ongoing Giving Back initiative
Little has changed since Burns v Burns . Cohabiting couples deserve better than to be left on the blasted heath with the existing witch’s brew for another four decades, argues Christopher Stirling
Six months of court observation at the Old Bailey: APPEAL’s Dr Nisha Waller and Tehreem Sultan report their findings on prosecution practices under joint enterprise
Despite its prevalence, autism spectrum disorder remains poorly understood in the criminal justice system. Does Alex Henry’s joint enterprise conviction expose the need to audit prisons? asks Dr Felicity Gerry KC
With automation now deeply embedded in the Department for Work Pensions, Alexander McColl and Alexa Thompson review what we know, what we don’t and avenues for legal challenge
Why were some Caribbean nations given such dramatically different constitutional frameworks when they gained independence from the UK? Dr Leonardo Raznovich examines the controversial savings clause
