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Membership and Benefits

2023YE membership is open!
We warmly invite you to join or renew your membership valid to 30 June 2023. Auto renew and pre-payment options are available.

Join us in representing women lawyers and the wider profession, as we have for over 70 years. We will continue to provide leadership in matters affecting women and the legal profession, by driving and advocating for change.

If you have any queries or need to check your membership status, please contact our office at executive@womenlawyersnsw.org.au

Women Lawyers in Politics – Newcastle

5.30pm 2 August 2022 at the United Services Club Newcastle

The Newcastle Chapter of the Women Lawyers’ Association of NSW invites you to join us and our fabulous panel, with veteran politician Robyn Parker sharing her experiences as our moderator, as we discuss the amazing careers of these women and how they have transferred their passions to political platforms.

Panel:
– The Honourable Robyn Parker (GAICD)
– Ms Sue Higginson, MLC Member of the Legislative Council; Member of The Greens; environmental law expert.
– Ms Kate Washington BA, LLB MP. Member of the Legislative Assembly; Member for Port Stephens; Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services, and Shadow Minister for Disability Inclusion; Member of the Australian Labor Party; health lawyer
– Professor Catherine Renshaw, Associate Dean, Research, School of Law; Professor, School of Law, Western Sydney University; Member of the Australian Labor Party; human rights lawyer and adviser.
– Ms Sally Davies, Partner at Jenkins Legal Services / Playwright; lawyer specialising in will & estates, employment law and corporate governance in the NFP sector.

AWL Conference 5-7 August 2022

The #AWL2022 National Conference will take place in Brisbane from 5-7 August. Tickets are for available for in-person and online attendance. Please click here to visit the website for further details.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION & DETAILS OF THE FULLY CATERED DAY DELEGATE SYDNEY SATELITE EVENT ON 6 AUGUST, HOSTED BY UTS.

With an inpressive line-up of speakers and panels, this is an event you won’t want to miss!
Some key speakers from the program includes:
The Honourable Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC
The Honourable Chief Justice Bowskill, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland
The Honourable Former Chief Justice Diana Bryant AO QC
President Fleur Kingham, Land Court of Queensland, and the President of the Australian Association of Women Judges
Jane Caro, Walkley award-winning author, social commentator, and broadcaster
Professor Megan Davis, UNSW Research Professor of Law

‘Gender diversity at a leadership level is critical for the future of the law’

Whilst more women are being given leadership pathways within the profession, there are still systematic changes that need to be addressed, said these legal leaders.

This issue is a “crucial” one for the legal industry moving forward, according to Women Lawyers Association NSW president Renée Bianchi, who said she was unimpressed with the slow-moving nature of change thus far. “I think there are many systemic issues that are yet to be resolved — pay equity, parental leave policies, transparency around what is required to be promoted and to reach those senior leadership positions, billing models, sexual harassment and bullying,” she said.

“Whilst these issues have been known about, and talked about, for some time, cultural change has been slow.” To enact change within the profession, firms need to make their female staff a priority in addition to having clear policies in place, added Ms Bianchi.

“[The profession should] really be making a change in how we do our business, and caring for our people. Ensuring there is transparency around what may be required for a role,” she said. “Providing not only mentoring opportunities, but sponsorship, so that, particularly for women, there is someone opening doors for them, advocating for them, and supporting them to get into those senior leadership positions.”