Footage of Australian Financial Review headline:
“Legal Affairs: Day of reckoning for sexist solicitors”)
Financial Review headline:
“Gender action good policy”)
Narrator:
Your Honour, it’s submitted that in ten years, things have changed dramatically for women at the Bar. It’s now time to embrace the future.
Helen Symon:
People have to re-examine their notions of who a barrister is, or who a woman is.
Felicity Hampel:
The sort of changes I’d like to see are systemic and cultural changes. There’s no magic wand, I think, that would make such a difference that if we did one thing, life would be easier for all women. I want to see many more women on the Bar Council, and particularly at the senior level of the Bar Council. I want to see many more women on the committees that actually influence Bar Council, legal profession decisions, and I want to see many more women as partners in law firms, as instructing solicitors in law firms, and of course I want to see more women on the bench.
Judge Fran Hogan:
I’ve noticed just this year a very increased significance of women barristers before me, in the criminal jurisdiction in particular.
Vicky Lambropolous:
We’re inheriting something, we’re kind of spoilt, because I’ve realised now what we’re inheriting from the work that happened ten years ago of people breaking through, when you didn’t see women anywhere, maybe, or a minority. Even thought we’re still a minority, I can imagine (that) ten years ago, it would have been a lot harder.
Judge Susan Cohen:
I think the Women Barristers Association does a - has a very real role, has from its inception, of providing a forum for a lot of the women at the Bar to meet each other.
Judge Rachel Lewitan:
It enables women to mix more easily with other women and to discuss the difficulties that they may have.
Justice Susan Crennan:
I think that’s marvellous now that you’ve got these whole groups of people that are sort of mutually supportive and you can talk about things, can share their tribulations and their triumphs and so forth.
Judge Susan Cohen:
I think it adds to the companionship. There’s really a very, not just helpful attitude, but an attitude amongst all of the women here of wanting to support each other.
Jan Wade:
I think the exchange of ideas in associations like that can help people identify areas where perhaps changes need to be made.
Michelle Wallace:
That’s its important, I think, that women at the Bar really attempt to, you know, really try to support each other.
Judge Susan Cohen:
And to learn about each other and each other’s areas of practice and skills.
Jan Wade:
I think the more people you talk to about problems, the more likely you are to get the right answer.
Michelle Wallace:
I think it’s together that, you know, we can remain strong at the Bar and try and make a change.
Judge Susan Cohen:
And it provides a very nice atmosphere, as I say, of companionship and support.
Judge Rachel Lewitan:
I think that the Association has achieved a lot, and I wish it every success in the future.
Helen Symon:
The fact of the matter is: we remain a group of the most privileged and educated women on the planet.
Written and Produced by Fiona McLeod SC
Edited and Directed by Sarah McLeod
A Twin Lizards Production
© 2003
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