International Women's Day 2024

On Sunday 8 March, 1908, female workers in the needle trades marched through New York City's Lower East Side to protest against child labour and sweatshop working conditions, and to demand women's suffrage, a term used to describe the right to vote. Only a couple of years later, the date was chosen to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD).

Held annually on 8 March, it is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It provides opportunity to look back on what has been achieved and to look to the future and the work that still needs to be done.

To mark the day, three WJM colleagues speak about what IWD means to them.

SJ Macdonald
International Women’s Day has always been a chance to reflect on the achievements of women and feminism as a movement, as well as our individual experiences and how to make life better for the females that follow in our footsteps.

Prior to 1919, women were not deemed “persons” to be enable them to practice law. By 1930, there were only 21 who had qualified to work as solicitors in Scotland. But in 2015, the number of women solicitors in Scotland surpassed men as the total number reached 51 per cent of those in the profession.

It was great to see #InspireInclusion as the chosen theme for IWD this year, working alongside people from a multitude of different backgrounds, identities and experiences breaks the stiff stereotypes of what a solicitor is, enriching our working lives and offering a wide array of perspectives for our clients.

A few years back, I met with clients who were seeking assistance with their Wills. After our meeting, they called the firm and expressed an interest in speaking to a more mature colleague citing concerns about how “young” I looked, despite the fact I held the role of Associate. After meeting a more junior (and younger) male colleague, they gave him instructions for the Wills without concern. He was highly competent, but perhaps he met their ‘traditional’ expectations of what a lawyer should be.

While my colleague and I found it amusing at the time, it was a stark reminder of the persistence of outdated perceptions in our society. Luckily, these interactions have been rare throughout my career, and for every one person who has been a barrier to progress, there has been a woman who has instilled me with value and pride.

In the profession, I’ve always admired Yvonne Evans, a senior lecturer in law. She helped me in the early days of my career keep an open mind to different areas of law that weren’t the romanticised, corporate law cases we often seen glamourised on TV. Through her role at the University of Dundee, I know she has provided countless law students with priceless advice and education, but most impactful is the support she offers such students – and the women lawyers of tomorrow.

“When you lift another woman up, you inspire others around you to do the same. And those opportunities continue to be passed on.” – Molly Galbraith, author of Strong Women Lift Each Other Up.

I would like to remind all looking at a career in law, regardless of sex, gender, or how you identify, there is a place for you and there are no barriers we can’t overcome together. #InspireInclusion

Kiran Bahia
My path into a legal career could perhaps best be described as ‘the road less travelled’.

However, I have learned, over time, this doesn’t hinder me. In fact, it gives me a whole host of different weapons in my arsenal.

With over 10 years of experience as a Paralegal under my belt, I qualified as a Solicitor a little later. However, I was the first in my family to do so and it is something my family, especially my grandad, who was born in Fiji, is incredibly proud of as he has always encouraged my pursuit to law.

After years of hard graft and sacrifice, I qualified in 2022, achieving my goal and a family first. Along the way there was rejection, doubts and the feeling of always having to punch up the way.

As a British-Sikh woman, I am proud of the barriers I have overcome in building my career. I was pleased to see #InspireInclusion as IWD’s theme for this year, as when women from all backgrounds and all walks of life are included then women will feel empowered as a result.

Winning the Rising Star in Law Award at the Scottish Asian and Business Awards 2023 felt like a breakthrough moment and made me realise - regardless of race, sex, gender or faith that you can achieve anything that you can set your mind to.

And it’s not just me or people that look like me. I am encouraged to see the strides forward being made by all women in all fields and across all levels. It is important that all women feel empowered and have the freedom to be able to pursue any career they may choose without any barriers. However, for me personally, seeing women succeed in the legal industry is of paramount importance. That representation really matters.

International Women’s Day is the perfect moment to sit back, take stock and reflect on the steps made in my own career as well as how life has changed compared to my mother, and her mother before her.

To see continued progression, it’s down to all of us - firms, solicitors, friends and family alike - to keep supporting and encouraging women as they look to break into the legal field.

Whether you take the road less travelled or a more direct route, remember there will be bumps along the way regardless.

Keep going, get experience and never stop doing what feels right for you.

Robyn Black
For young women like me, we are not only witnessing, but are part of a sea change in the legal profession.

For example, over half of the people enrolled in my university course were female and classes were led by female lecturers.

While it is encouraging to see the barriers lowering, coming into a law firm straight out of university can feel intimidating, even though the environment in WJM is far from that.

I wrote an assignment on ‘Women in Law’ and the idea of a ‘glass ceiling’, which unfortunately still exists in some circles. To therefore be surrounded by strong women moving into senior positions across our firm is extremely encouraging as a young female trainee.

At WJM, one of the heartening and comforting things for me is the camaraderie between our trainees – all young women, working hard and in harmony to improve our prospects.

By the time I finish my career, in what feels like the distant future, I believe there will be a continued closing of the gap, with more women in senior positions and an even fairer, more equitable working environment.

Something which maybe felt a long way off for my more senior colleagues when they started out is fast becoming a reality for solicitors like me, in their 20s and learning the trade under the best circumstances women in law have had in history.

While I may only be six months out of university and at the onset of my career, providing guidance and acting as a role model to others is how I hope my actions are perceived as I move through my career.

For me, International Women’s Day is not only a celebration of brilliant women and how far we've come, but a reminder of how best to treat each other and why that is so important, not only now, but for future generations as well.