Hi all - we are relocating our blog to combine with the NZLS issues discussion board to let our powers combine!
See you there!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Full time v part time
http://www.legaljobscentre.com/job-market-news/firms-still-prefer-full-time-lawyers-say-recruiters/60782
Paid maternity leave increases at Allens, Corrs and Freehills
Check out the latest trends in paid paternity leave:
http://www.legaljobscentre.com/job-market-news/paid-maternity-leave-increases-at-allens-corrs-and-freehills/60749
http://www.legaljobscentre.com/job-market-news/paid-maternity-leave-increases-at-allens-corrs-and-freehills/60749
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Joan Withers Interview
Check out the Business Day interview of Joan Withers - former Chief Executive of Fairfax Media and one of the most sought after fulltime professional company directors in NZ:
http://www.nzx.com/news/4176640/Director-believes-in-making-a-difference
She notes that it is hard for young women to get their first directorship. Her advice?
"I think it's easier if you have a strong commercial background. There are a lot of senior lawyers and senior accountants getting into board positions but I think boards are looking for commercial people with wider experience. Being a CEO certainly helps."
"A lot of people talk about networking – but make sure it is networking appropriately. Don't do as I have seen some women do and pick up business cards (at a function or meeting) and then send out a group email saying, `hi, just letting you know what I am up to'."
"Learn as much as you can. It's never been easier to go to university and do papers where you don't have the skills. Supplement your skills and do the Institute of Directors course. Do the reading. Be serious about reading and understanding what happens in a business environment."
http://www.nzx.com/news/4176640/Director-believes-in-making-a-difference
She notes that it is hard for young women to get their first directorship. Her advice?
"I think it's easier if you have a strong commercial background. There are a lot of senior lawyers and senior accountants getting into board positions but I think boards are looking for commercial people with wider experience. Being a CEO certainly helps."
"A lot of people talk about networking – but make sure it is networking appropriately. Don't do as I have seen some women do and pick up business cards (at a function or meeting) and then send out a group email saying, `hi, just letting you know what I am up to'."
"Learn as much as you can. It's never been easier to go to university and do papers where you don't have the skills. Supplement your skills and do the Institute of Directors course. Do the reading. Be serious about reading and understanding what happens in a business environment."
Half the Sky
Last night there was an interview on National Radio where author Sheryl Wudunn discussed her latest book that she co-authored: Half the Sky. I haven't read the book yet but her interview intrigued me.
The book is about women around the world and the movement 'Half the Sky' which addresses gender inqeuality particularly in third world nations.
As the movement website says:
"Half the Sky lays out an agenda for the world's women and three major abuses: sex trafficking and forced prostitution; gender-based violence including honor killings and mass rape; maternal mortality, which needlessly claims one woman a minute. We know there are many worthy causes competing for attention in the world. We focus on this one because this kind of oppression feels transcendent – and so does the opportunity. Outsiders can truly make a difference."
Check out their website for more information and some interesting blogs:
http://www.halftheskymovement.org/
The book is about women around the world and the movement 'Half the Sky' which addresses gender inqeuality particularly in third world nations.
As the movement website says:
"Half the Sky lays out an agenda for the world's women and three major abuses: sex trafficking and forced prostitution; gender-based violence including honor killings and mass rape; maternal mortality, which needlessly claims one woman a minute. We know there are many worthy causes competing for attention in the world. We focus on this one because this kind of oppression feels transcendent – and so does the opportunity. Outsiders can truly make a difference."
Check out their website for more information and some interesting blogs:
http://www.halftheskymovement.org/
Monday, August 23, 2010
Court room diversity
Women Judges More Favoured by Lawyers
Friday, 18 June 2010, 11:14 am Press Release: Law Fuel
Judicial Survey Shows Women Judges More Favoured by Lawyers And Justice Baragwanath comes out as the most popular
LawFuel.co.nz - A survey of barristers conducted by website publishers KiwisFirst, published by Vince Siemer, have shown that retiring Court of Appeal Judge David Baragwanath was the highest overall scorer at 9.1, with embattled Supreme Court Justice Bill Wilson pulling only 3.1 in last place in the survey.
Although lawyers were requested by the Law Society not to participate in the survey, it was evidently well patronised by those who wanted to express their views on the popularity of the senior judges.
Lawyers were asked to score each judge on a scale of 1 to 10 in four categories; knowledge of the law, intelligence, personal character and fairness - as well as provide relevant comments.
Though women comprise 21% of the judges surveyed, they captured half of the top ten spots and three of the top five in the overall rankings. The average rating for female judges was 7.75, compared to 7.50 for the men.
Male judges still scored, on average, higher in knowledge of the law and intelligence, but the women outranked the men on the 'perceived fairness and integrity' ranking. blew the men away on perceived fairness and integrity.
Mr Siever commented: "If Judith Potter J - a definite outlier in the survey - was removed, female judges on average were considered an astounding 28% fairer in their judicial approach than their male counterparts."
"The results from the survey also raised the disturbing possibility that the overall judicial pool is short on talent and that, with the possible exception of Sian Elias, the New Zealand Supreme Court is not the bastion for this scarce legal talent. There appears palpable fear by some lawyers responding that the Supreme Court is not as reliable as the Privy Council was."
He commented that there was little diversity in the court and that minorities are virtually unrepresented. "Comments were common that many judges act with overt bias on Crown cases" he said.
"These results strongly suggest that New Zealand consider re-evaluating the mechanism by which judges are appointed, promoted and monitored."
Friday, 18 June 2010, 11:14 am Press Release: Law Fuel
Judicial Survey Shows Women Judges More Favoured by Lawyers And Justice Baragwanath comes out as the most popular
LawFuel.co.nz - A survey of barristers conducted by website publishers KiwisFirst, published by Vince Siemer, have shown that retiring Court of Appeal Judge David Baragwanath was the highest overall scorer at 9.1, with embattled Supreme Court Justice Bill Wilson pulling only 3.1 in last place in the survey.
Although lawyers were requested by the Law Society not to participate in the survey, it was evidently well patronised by those who wanted to express their views on the popularity of the senior judges.
Lawyers were asked to score each judge on a scale of 1 to 10 in four categories; knowledge of the law, intelligence, personal character and fairness - as well as provide relevant comments.
Though women comprise 21% of the judges surveyed, they captured half of the top ten spots and three of the top five in the overall rankings. The average rating for female judges was 7.75, compared to 7.50 for the men.
Male judges still scored, on average, higher in knowledge of the law and intelligence, but the women outranked the men on the 'perceived fairness and integrity' ranking. blew the men away on perceived fairness and integrity.
Mr Siever commented: "If Judith Potter J - a definite outlier in the survey - was removed, female judges on average were considered an astounding 28% fairer in their judicial approach than their male counterparts."
"The results from the survey also raised the disturbing possibility that the overall judicial pool is short on talent and that, with the possible exception of Sian Elias, the New Zealand Supreme Court is not the bastion for this scarce legal talent. There appears palpable fear by some lawyers responding that the Supreme Court is not as reliable as the Privy Council was."
He commented that there was little diversity in the court and that minorities are virtually unrepresented. "Comments were common that many judges act with overt bias on Crown cases" he said.
"These results strongly suggest that New Zealand consider re-evaluating the mechanism by which judges are appointed, promoted and monitored."
Women Lawyers In New Zealand - latest figures
LawFuel - The Law Jobs and Legal NewsWire:
Women lawyers are increasing rapidly in New Zealand, although partner statistics are yet to reflect their growing numbers. The law firm with the highest percentage of women partners is South Island-based Anderson Lloyd, who have Eleven women partners - 40% - our of a total 27. In percentage terms, the next largest was Brookfields with 35% (6) and DLA Phillips Fox with 28% (7).
There has been a significant trend towards more women in law over the past decade. Figures received by LawFuel show that female admissions began to overtake men in 1993 with 266 female admissions to the bar, compared with the male figure of 245. The split was 52%/48%.Five years ago the figure was 456/370 (55%/45%). In 2006 it was 464/316 (61%/39%).
The women partner figures (assembled as at the end of 2007 and grouped according to the percentage of women partners) show the following in terms of
1. Total Partners, 2. Women Partners and 3. Percentage Women Partners:
Total partners Women partners Percentage (women)
1. Anderson Lloyd 27 11 40
2. Brookfields 17 6 35
3. DLA Phillips Fox 25 7 28
4. Minter Ellison 34 9 26
5. Meredith Connell 22 5 22
6. Simpson Grierson 44 7 16
7. Chapman Tripp= 51 7 14
7. Kensington Swan = 35 5 14
8. Morrison Kent = 17 2 12
8. Martelli McKegg = 12 3 12
9. Buddle Findlay 35 4 11
10. Bell Gully 41 4 10
The ratings need to be seen in the context of the aspirations and relative priorities of women in law as much as any attempts by law firms to stifle their lawyers' aspirations.It is clear from research that many women simply have not sought the partner roles and put family preferences ahead of their professional ambitions. This has altered somewhat with many firms adopting a more flexible work/life balance for male and female lawyers alike, which in turn has lead to a greater move of women into leadership positions in law firms.
Women lawyers are increasing rapidly in New Zealand, although partner statistics are yet to reflect their growing numbers. The law firm with the highest percentage of women partners is South Island-based Anderson Lloyd, who have Eleven women partners - 40% - our of a total 27. In percentage terms, the next largest was Brookfields with 35% (6) and DLA Phillips Fox with 28% (7).
There has been a significant trend towards more women in law over the past decade. Figures received by LawFuel show that female admissions began to overtake men in 1993 with 266 female admissions to the bar, compared with the male figure of 245. The split was 52%/48%.Five years ago the figure was 456/370 (55%/45%). In 2006 it was 464/316 (61%/39%).
The women partner figures (assembled as at the end of 2007 and grouped according to the percentage of women partners) show the following in terms of
1. Total Partners, 2. Women Partners and 3. Percentage Women Partners:
Total partners Women partners Percentage (women)
1. Anderson Lloyd 27 11 40
2. Brookfields 17 6 35
3. DLA Phillips Fox 25 7 28
4. Minter Ellison 34 9 26
5. Meredith Connell 22 5 22
6. Simpson Grierson 44 7 16
7. Chapman Tripp= 51 7 14
7. Kensington Swan = 35 5 14
8. Morrison Kent = 17 2 12
8. Martelli McKegg = 12 3 12
9. Buddle Findlay 35 4 11
10. Bell Gully 41 4 10
The ratings need to be seen in the context of the aspirations and relative priorities of women in law as much as any attempts by law firms to stifle their lawyers' aspirations.It is clear from research that many women simply have not sought the partner roles and put family preferences ahead of their professional ambitions. This has altered somewhat with many firms adopting a more flexible work/life balance for male and female lawyers alike, which in turn has lead to a greater move of women into leadership positions in law firms.
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