Foreword

Foreword

SUMMER 2024

It’s astonishing how quickly the world changes and we adapt. The concept of a legal influencer in 2024 seems commonplace but the more Legal Women looked into it, the more intriguing and complex it became. We were able to gather views from those who had grown up with the internet and its fledgling social media to the plethora of platforms today. Others, including me, were well into our careers before we were presented even with the wonders of email!

So, what does it mean to be a legal influencer? There have always been influencers legal or otherwise. What distinguishes the towering figures of the past who have influenced our societies from those on social media? The influence of people we may only dimly recognise today were luminaries in their day through print or by giving speeches – inevitably it might have taken longer for the ideas to spread, but they did spread, including ‘fake news’. Perhaps individual names of the suffragettes and suffragists do not always easily come to mind, but their impact through pamphlets, rallies and direct action shook our society to its core with lasting impact. The power of word, images and action has always been with us.

Arguing through essay writing and discourse is a wellestablished part of our heritage and, in the past, it was closely followed and reproduced by the print media. Formerly, this back and forth of letters from rivals was the equal of furious exchanges on social media although, the nature of print meant obscenities etc. were removed whereas there is still a struggle with the online mediums to insist on regulation of content. And even in today’s quick fire social media, the desire for longer, more reflective reads has led to the growth of platforms such as Substack, theconversation.com or articles on authoritative websites etc. So, what is unique about influencing through a social media platform and does it bring any particular challenges to the legal world? We explore this over two issues.

This Summer edition starts by asking why influencers stand out and what the followers value. In the Autumn edition, we will look in more depth at the work of some of the influencers and reflect on its impact on the legal profession and society.

Authenticity is highly valued in today’s world not only for influencers but for all of us and I was struck by this wonderfully appropriate quote from Virgina Woolf:

“No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself.”

This edition also covers how to bring professional greetings up-to-date for a modern profession. The ‘Dear Sirs’ traditionally used no longer seems appropriate in many circumstances but what alternatives work for you. One example is included here on page 20.

#Menopause Matters is superb guidance for any workplace and relevant for everyone. David Sanchez, from BARBRI introduces the guide:

“Male or female, we are all human and have a shared responsibility to drive awareness of this biological reality. It's imperative we ensure our colleagues have the infrastructure of support they need to balance their needs both personally and professionally."

The statistics in the guide collected from The Law Society, CIPD to the House of Commons all show the same thing; employers are losing women by not addressing the issue appropriately and this is often at the peak of the woman’s career, when a departure can mean a drop in profits for the business - Win/Win to address the issue. You can find the articles in this edition, and we plan to promote this further through social media. You can access the guidance here PowerPoint Presentation (hausfeld.com) ■

Coral Hill

Founder and Editor-in-Chief

“No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself.”

LW magazine is for everyone; lawyers, solicitors, barristers, advocates, judges, legal executives and those working as paralegals, legal secretaries, advisers or recruiters, the list is endless. We welcome the many male champions as readers and contributors.

Our mission is to:

■ Provide clear information on gender parity

■ Inspire practical initiatives to create real change

■ Promote innovation in leadership and practice