Doctor Ivy Williams was a pioneer for women who joined the ranks of a male dominated profession on the 10th May 1922. It is remarkable that in nearly a hundred years since women were able to be called to the Bar in England and Wales, we still see women under-represented in the legal profession. Despite this passage of time, the Bar Standards Board Annual Report 2019/20 records that women only account for 39% of barristers and the retention rate for women 10-15 years call is far too low. I am sadden but not surprised.
Add the demands of family and child care to the day-to-day challenges of an unrelenting workload with long hours, too many open files and, often, a general lack of support and one can quickly see why. It is women who often take the strain. Balancing work-life with home-life in a competitive legal world which often goes far beyond the ‘9 til’ 5’ risks burn-out.
One hundred years later and we are doing “our bit” here at MLS by challenging status quo and disrupting legal sector with our new firm model. We bring our consultants relief through offering another way of working in the law. With a support and mentoring programme which prioritises our team, flexible working and 100% control, we can help them thrive in tandem with enjoying their homelife.
