QUT WOMEN IN LAW The first women to enter the legal profession in Australia was Flos Grieg in 1905. She began her law degree in 1897 when it was still illegal for women to become lawyers. She was the first women to receive the right to practice in Australia and helped thousands of other women enter the legal profession. Years later we have multiple iconic women pathing the way for future practitioners. QUT Women in Law (QUTWIL) was established in 2019 by co-founders Ella Tait and Katie Cockburn. Their aim was to create a student society with a strong network of students, staff and industry professionals who are passionate about gender equality in the law. Despite 115 years passing since Flos Greig was first admitted, gender inequality in the legal industry persists. “We are often asked why we started QUTWIL ‘given there are more female law students than male students,’ ‘more female partners are getting promoted all the time’ and ‘it’s getting better!’ Yes, it’s getting better, but that doesn’t mean it’s very good,” stated Ella and Katie. “Aside from the avalanche of anecdotal evidence that describes the way women are undermined, sexually harassed and denied opportunity in their professional lives, studies continue to demonstrate that women are still disadvantaged in the legal profession. From studies demonstrating female High Court Judges are more likely to be interrupted by counsel than their male counterparts (Melbourne University Law Review, 2020), to reports indicating large pay gaps between male and female barristers (Law Council of Australia, 2019), it’s evident we still have a lot to improve on,” they continued. The aim of QUTWIL is to encourage constructive discussions on gender inequality in the law, with a view to creating
18
solutions and fostering inclusive debate. Our ultimate goal is to increase student awareness of gender inequality in the law, so that present and future practitioners will be provided with more opportunities. Why join QUTWIL? QUTWIL not only aims to advocate for and equip law students with the skills to be powerful players in the legal sphere, we also foster the friendships and support networks that help you get there. We believe that this kind of mutual support and mentorship is vital to ensure women achieve their goals. QUTWIL’s rapid growth in both membership and engagement demonstrates that many others in the Law Faculty sought a Society where they could discuss and build connections with likeminded people passionate about gender equality. QUTWIL offers a variety of events throughout the year, that are both social and educational. Last year our society organised their first industry panel titled. ‘The Making of a Modern Leader’ supported by the Women’s Lawyers Association of Queensland (WLAQ). The panel featured a variety of successful women including; Penelope Eden (Partner at Minter Ellison), Tabatha Young (CEO of Aboriginal Family and Legal Services) and Nichola Di Muzio (Special Counsel at Thynne + Macartney and WLAQ Treasurer). The event allowed our members to network with the panellists and one another. Key lessons from the evening included topics on resilience, work life balance, and confidence. While QUTWIL is not in a position to fix the complex and underlying social issues that cause women to be disadvantaged, we promise to: create a space where women can speak openly and honestly about the challenges they have and will face in their career; bring together a range
