International Women’s Day 2022 celebrated by The Law Society of Northern Ireland

Reflections on IWD 2022

International Women’s Day 2022 celebrated by The Law Society of Northern Ireland

This important event was hosted by journalist Sarah Travers who many in Northern Ireland will recognise as the former BBC news anchor in a career spanning almost three decades. The guests of honour were Lady Chief Justice The Right Honourable Dame Siobhan Keegan DBE, the Justice Minister for Northern Ireland Naomi Long MLA, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland Dame Brenda King, DCB and Brigid Napier, the President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland.

While none of their journeys into the legal profession were the same, they were all agreed on their message to the audience – educate yourself, believe in yourself and be the change you want to see in society.

Early days – The importance of education and role models

It was a surprise to hear that Dame Siobhan Keegan did not come from a legal background despite her meteoric rise through the ranks of the Bar Library of Northern Ireland. She became Queen’s Counsel at the age of 35 and held various judicial positions before being appointed as the first-ever Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland in September 2021.

The Lady Chief Justice spoke candidly when discussing her role models growing up. She did not have any family or mentors in the legal profession but instead described her role models as the women close to her at home – her mother, aunt, and her female group of friends. This was echoed by each of the guests who stressed the importance of a strong group of friends and peers.

LCJ Dame Siobhan Keegan also stressed the importance of education, and that education is a privilege. While acknowledging the difficulties that women still face in the UK, she said this pales in comparison to the uncertain and often dangerous situations faced by women in many countries, where misogynistic attitudes are prevalent, particularly against those involved in the judicial system.

The Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA agreed. She talked about a similar education as she attended an all-girls grammar school. This resonated with me, having also attended an all-girls Catholic grammar school in Derry, Northern Ireland. I feel privileged to have attended a school with such a strong ethos focused on motivating young women to reach their potential regardless of their chosen career path. (It was also the inspiration for Channel 4 show, Derry Girls!).

Naomi Long’s pathway into making real legal changes as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly was unexpected. She originally trained as a civil engineer at Queen’s University Belfast admitting that she ‘hated’ politics. However, her experience of being educated within the integrated education sector coupled with the background of a troubled Northern Ireland steered her into the path of politics. She became convinced that the divisions in Northern Ireland did not make sense and the political landscape needed to change. Although she did not realise, she would become a driving force behind that change.

Make the leap – You can’t wait until you are ready

Describing how she made the leap into politics and subsequently running for the Northern Ireland Assembly, Naomi Long said: “Most of us never feel ready for the next step but jump in and you may find not only you can do it, but you enjoy it”. This shows the importance of testing yourself when opportunities arise even when you feel you may not be ready for it and may not be capable. “Imposter system” is something that as women we often encounter and something I can personally relate to. However, the message was clear – you must be prepared to take a leap of faith in yourself.

As the first solicitor to become the Attorney General for Northern Ireland, Dame Brenda King DCB said that often the most challenging and scary things you do are what turn out to be the most fascinating. She described her journey into her current role, and how she was pushed into it, saying it was “absolutely the right thing to do.” She also described herself as a great believer in taking yourself out of your comfort zone. She had these words of encouragement: “If your employer is asking you to do stuff that is very demanding, it is because they think you can do it” even if you do not believe this yourself.

Breaking the Bias

Brigid Napier, President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland is particularly keen to make a positive contribution to promote equality during her tenure. Ms Napier comes from a prominent family within Northern Ireland with an impressive legal background. However, she was most inspired by her grandmother who although not a lawyer, was highly educated but like many women of her generation was forced to give up on her career dreams to look after her family.

Ms Napier also reflected on women in the legal industry who came before her and who inspired her. This included Thomasena McKinney, the first female President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland and the first across any country in the British Isles in 1978.

She is an advocate for change and the promotion of equality for all reflective of a modern Northern Ireland. She pointed out key groups of interest for attendees, including the Northern Ireland Young Solicitor’s Association, and stressed the importance of having a ‘survival group’ of friends to confide in and share knowledge with.

The event was a fascinating insight into the lives of four outstandingly successful women in Northern Ireland. Its key messages were the importance of education, believing in yourself, and taking steps to shatter the glass ceiling.

Enya Hood

Enya Hood

Trainee Solicitor

Caldwell & Robinson

Sarah Travers

Journalist and television presenter Sarah Travers chaired the discussion. She is currently co-founder and director of Bespoke Communications, a training and professional development company. However, she is perhaps best known for her role as BBC Newsline anchor.

LCJ Dame Siobhan Keegan

LCJ Dame Siobhan Keegan

The Lady Chief Justice, Dame Siobhan Keegan, DBE. Lady Chief Justice Keegan was sworn in at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast, on 2 September 2021.

Naomi Long, Justice Minister (right hand side)

Naomi Long, Justice Minister (right hand side)

The Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA has been Justice Minister since January 2020 and is the current leader of the Alliance political party in Northern Ireland.

Dame Brenda King AG

Dame Brenda King AG

Dame Brenda King is the current Attorney General for Northern Ireland, having been first appointed to the role in 2020. Prior to this appointment, she was previously the First Legislative Counsel for Northern Ireland.

Brigid Napier

Brigid Napier

Brigid Napier is the current President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, together with being Director in Napier Solicitors in Belfast, dealing with complex personal and corporate insolvency cases.

Photos used with permission from The Law Society of Northern Ireland.