Law Society virtue signalling

Yup.

The mansplaining. Pages of it. Apparently we're doing Women's Awards all wrong. By, you know, allowing just women to enter.

I also received a - patronising - reply. From a man.

You should point out that it excludes trans men who have suffered the disadvantages that women's awards seek to recognise and additional ones because of being trans.

OK, so I complained to the Law Society.

I have had a very lengthy response. I suspect some of it has been cut and pasted from responses to other complainants because it attributes to me statements and references I did not make in my complaint.

As far as I can tell, it justifies extending the award to any solicitor who 'identifies as a woman' on the basis that transwomen suffer even more discrimination than their 'cisgender' counterparts. Making the award fully inclusive enables the Law Society to reach out to this most marginalised of groups. This, they say, is all part of making sure that as a society we move to a place of true equality.

For good measure I am told several times that I am wrong. And the overall tone is extremely patronising.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised but I'm very angry. When I've calmed down I will think about my reply.

Has anyone else had a response?

I have emailed to object - in no uncertain terms.

"In 2017, women solicitors represented more than half the profession, however still too few women reach senior level positions. In addition to achieving professional excellence in her field at senior level, we're looking to recognise a woman solicitor who has achieved significant results either in her business or for the benefit of society through her legal skills. This individual will have opened doors historically closed to women and will be inspiring and influencing others to pursue a career in law."

that last sentence is a bit of a problem isn't it? We don't need more women to be inspired to go in to law. We need more of us to survive and progress!

Thanks. No harm in carrying on tagging Law Soc in tweets etc as that will be evidence of how many people have a view in this. But please keep out of it anything I've said on this thread.

Anything we can do to put pressure on/draw attention?

Wonderful thank you @jaimesgoldenhand

Jaimes thank you for doing what you can and letting us know what you can!

@busyboysmum - I don't know tbh. I don't know if they will ignore what I've done, change the rules, maybe leave it for this year and rethink for next year. All I know is that the matter is being drawn to the attention of the right person/people.

“oh, and all those men had school aged children.”

Oh yes....

Oh yes, I remember coming back to work and hearing them all being aske£ about their half marathons....

“This is typical of the way non-work activities are treated in law, especially in Magic Circle / City firms. It's acceptable for male partners to make time to fit in training to hike to the North Pole, write books, do a Masters, teach a university course or climb Everest (I know men who have done each of these and more) but trying to progress a career while having childcare responsibilities is not acceptable.

The idea of this prize going to a man is mind-bogglingly insulting to women lawyers, especially mothers.”

twitter.com/Loolovestea/status/976747980375117825

Someone on Twitter wondering if there has been any challenge to this? Does anyone on here know?

@JaimesGoldenHand are you suggesting that it would remain for this year but might be reconsidered for next year?

That’s a really good point Flora

oh, and all those men had school aged children.

I totally agree that this award should not be open to any TIMs however I do also have a problem with the award itself. I don't think there should be an award for Woman Lawyer of the Year, I'd rather call the organisation to account for why women are not better represented in the other categories (who will almost certainly be predominantly won by men). In particular I have a problem with this:

In addition to achieving professional excellence in her field at senior level, we're looking to recognise a woman solicitor who has achieved significant results either in her business or for the benefit of society through her legal skills. This individual will have opened doors historically closed to women and will be inspiring and influencing others to pursue a career in law.

This is typical of the challenges women face in law - she not only has to spend a huge amount of time to achieve in her career, she also has to have devoted time and attention to non-billable, non-BD work to "inspire and influence others". What are the chances she can do that if she is a mother?

This is typical of the way non-work activities are treated in law, especially in Magic Circle / City firms. It's acceptable for male partners to make time to fit in training to hike to the North Pole, write books, do a Masters, teach a university course or climb Everest (I know men who have done each of these and more) but trying to progress a career while having childcare responsibilities is not acceptable.

The idea of this prize going to a man is mind-bogglingly insulting to women lawyers, especially mothers.

Though I might identify myself as the winner first

I would totally vote for you!

Eve, I rather love you!

Best of luck in your endeavours, I hope you win!

Annoying post. I have done something that will enable this to be considered by the right person at the right level. I can't say what, sorry - appreciate this makes the post v annoying. Nothing may come of it of course but perhaps next year they'll consider the issues.

Rachel Dolezal (white) won a scholarship to University on the basis of identifying as black. No difference here. none at all. Pleasant individual, I believe. Yet she took the place of a black person.

Cue outrage

bravo Eve

I did not RTFT

That leaves me with surgeon and astronaut

I am going to self-identify as a lawyer and bloody well nominate myself for this award.

However, after closely following various television series I feel that I know all about being a senior-level Solicitor and therefore am eligible for this award. I trust that the Law Society does not find this self-identification at all offensive and contrary to their ethos, and that you find my submission worthy.