How the Legal Profession is Bridging the Gap between the Sexes

The gender pay gap within the legal sector has been widely reported over the past few years and, even with certain sex discrimination acts in place, there is still a gap in pay between men and women across the world. However, we are beginning to see a level playing field emerging within the pay remit for male and female lawyers at lower level positions. What we need to see now is the higher level management partnerships catching up. A recent survey undertaken by the Law Society in the UK  found that, on average, female lawyers in the top level positions were earning £19,000 less than their male counterparts.*

So, what is being done to try to bridge the gender pay gap? Over the past few years, initiatives have become more prominent. The diversity in the workplace initiatives have come in many forms, from award ceremonies recognizing the outstanding work of women within the profession, all the way through to gender diversity conferences. It is this level of public praise for both genders that could be responsible for the equalization of the pay gap for new lawyers and graduates. So, in order to give more credit to the companies, universities and countries that are beginning to understand the need for a more inclusive pay scheme, here are three bright initiatives to keep your eye on.

Ms. JD International Scholar Update

Ed. Note: In 2010 Ms. JD launched the Global Education Fund to enable women in developing countries to pursue legal educations who otherwise would not have access to further education.  Ms. JD International Scholars are being supported by the GEF's grants to Makerere University in Uganda.  Here is an update from the Program, along with some brief updates from the Scholars.

With financial support from Ms. JD Global Education Fund, the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD) has purchased some text books which were identified by the scholars. These books have been placed in the GMD Resource Centre for the scholars to access. The scholars had earlier reported that it was difficult to access these books in the Main library because they are few copies to be shared among many law students. As a result Ms. JD responded by sending funds to purchase the books. These books are not only used by the Ms. JD Scholars but also the rest of the scholars under the FSF who are studying law at Makerere University.

The Ms. JD Scholars received training on how to access the E-resources. GMD liaised with Makerere University Library to train the scholars since this was one of the challenges faced by the Ms. JD Scholars. 

A few words from our Scholars:

Ms. JD International Scholar Update: Joannine Nanyange

 Editor's Note: Joannine Nayange is a 2010  Ms. JD International Scholar studying law at Makerere University in Uganda thanks to the Global Eduction Fund. 

Joannine Nanyange reports:

I hope you entered the new-year well and I also hope it is turning out to be fruitful. 2013 is so far a very good year for me in terms of studies and social life.

When we reported back for semester II, there was a course unit that I really wanted to offer. It is called Clinical Legal Education. It basically deals with Public Interest Law which involves taking legal aid and justice to the poor and needy. It also entails protection of the rights of vulnerable groups. The problem was that they only wanted 15 people for that class since its module of teaching is quite different and taxing. It involves a lot of research and fieldwork and has less class work. Very many people applied to offer the course but there were restrictions. One must have offered International and Regional Human Rights and a minimum CGPA of 3.2. Luckily, I met both those requirements. A shortlist was published for the people that qualified to do the interviews of which I was among. We did both oral and written interviews and out of 19 students that had been shortlisted, they wanted a final number of 15. All the students were really good and I was scared but when the final list came out, I was among the 15. I was so happy. It is an amazing course with a lot of practical knowledge.

It’s Time to Confirm Caitlin Halligan

By Marcia Greenberger, Co-President, National Women's Law Center (Cross-posted from NWLC's blog).

For the second time, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted today to approve President Obama’s nomination of Caitlin Halligan to fill a vacancy on the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Ms. Halligan, a talented appellate lawyer, was first nominated in September 2010, and an outpouring of bipartisan support quickly followed from prominent lawyers, law-enforcement officials, women’s legal organizations, and others from around the country. Even so, a minority of Senators insisted on filibustering her nomination, and they have succeeded in blocking it so far.  In the meantime, the number of vacancies on this important court has grown, and now there are an alarming four vacancies on this 11-judge court. Now that the President has resubmitted her nomination, and the Committee has again approved it, it is high time that a confirmation vote is held before the full Senate.

Fifteen Things You Didn’t Know About Ms. JD Vice President Janet Wallace

1. In addition to writing at Ms. JD, I write at my personal blog, This Confetti Life. I believe the meaning of life can be found in confetti. Some of the Ms. JD Board Members disagree with my philosophy, to which I respond by sending them confetti.

2. I spent a summer interning at The White House where I wrapped the President’s presents. I did some other things, too, but mainly I wrapped little gold boxes in shiny gold wrapping paper, tied with shiny gold ribbon, and stickered with shiny gold Presidential seals.

3. I studied the History of Art and Architecture at the University of California, Santa Barbara. If I wasn’t a lawyer, I’d want to be a museum curator.

4. Prior to attending law school, I was a high school photography teacher. We had a huge darkroom and  developed black and white film and prints the old fashioned way: with developer, stop bath, and fixer.

5. I live in San Luis Obispo, California, the happiest city in America (really!). It's also pretty gorgeous:

Let Women Vote: Attorney-Suffragettes

So many of us take for granted the simple voting privileges embodied in the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution which came into existence in the fall of 1920. We seldom discuss or acknowledge the forty-year battle fought on many fronts by brave women (and men) who were imprisoned and assaulted on account of their efforts to gain women the right to vote. I highly recommend the riveting movie ‘Iron Jawed Angels’ in which Hilary Swank brings to life the historical figure Alice Paul, attorney and suffragist. It’s difficult to imagine a woman lawyer at the turn of the century who was not also an ardent suffragist.

Reports indicate that Paul had no fewer than six college degrees, three of them law-related. She had grown up in the shadow of noted suffragists Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton but she was not content to follow the same path which had failed to move the country’s leaders to grant women an equal vote. To read accounts of her story, you get the impression that she was done with the polite approach. Paul wanted action. She represented new blood in the movement along with new ideas. So she and her like-minded colleagues silently picketed the White House and were arrested and incarcerated for it. When she launched a hunger strike, she was force-fed. Thankfully, she survived this and more, living until she was 92 years old.

One Essential Trait of a Leader Is…The Ability To Turn Ideas Into Action!

I think one of the most important aspects of leadership is the ability to effectively address the needs and circumstances of the community you wish to serve. It’s one thing to have a vision and listen to the needs of employees and individuals living in the community you wish to serve. A good leader or visionary knows how to take ideas to the next level and apply their vision to innovative strategies and programs.  It’s important for all communities, especially the underserved to feel their voices are heard. In my experience, both personally and professionally, communities feel most represented when they see the impact of their ideas on the world around them.

Moreover, a good leader knows to make sure the results of their program evaluations, needs assessments, focus groups, and employee feedback are integrated into their daily planning and goals. It is important for great female managers and leaders to advocate for ideas and feedback to eventually leave the classroom or boardroom and be turned into tangible change, ensuring that the hard work of all those involved is meeting the organization’s target goals and addressing the needs of the surrounding community. 

One Essential Trait of a Leader Is...Self-Awareness

Editor's Note: This post was submitted in response to Ms. JD's She Leads essay prompt: "One Essential Trait of a Leader is ..." Ms. JD: She Leads will take place October 5, 2012 in Washington, DC and will feature keynote speeches from Marne Levine, the VP of Global Public Policy at Facebook and the DQs.  To learn more about Ms. JD: She Leads and to register, click here.

One essential trait of a leader is self-awareness. While great leaders need a variety of different characteristics and skill sets, I think self-awareness is one of the most important.

A great leader takes the time to evaluate the talent she is trying to leverage in whatever group she is leading. After all, leadership is a true collaborative effort, and it requires guidance and feedback from individuals at various stages in the process. This is true whether one is leading a team, club, group project -- or a firm, I imagine.

Letters from Uganda: Joaninne Nanyange's 1st Semester

In 2010 Ms. JD launched the Global Education Fund to enable women in developing countries to pursue legal educations who otherwise would not have access to further education.  Joaninne Nanyange is one of the 2010-2011 Ms. JD International Scholars being supported by the GEF's inaugural grant to Makerere University in Uganda.  Here are her reflections on her first semester.

My first semester at Makerere University as a law student was very eventful. It was an exciting experience finally being at campus, something every young person dreams about. It is even better when you are admitted to a prestigious faculty like Faculty of law. With all this excitement however was a shock that none of us expected-reading hard! It was and still is a general belief among many young people in

Uganda that life at the University is a walkover. I had not had it in mind that the course I had chosen needs a lot of attention. I however quickly adjusted to the situation and accepted the responsibility I had taken on.

Being a law student is a big challenge. Society's expectations of you become high. The way you behave and conduct yourself both in and out of campus is always under scrutiny. Meeting these expectations is a big challenge. It however comes with a lot of prestige and respect from both your peers and the public at large. It is interesting seeing someone nearly bowing for you because you told them you do law at Makerere University!

The course also has many lessons to teach. The most important lesson that I have got so far is self-respect. It comes naturally for a law student to develop self-respect. This is because society holds you in high esteem and young people look up to you as a role model with a lot of admiration. Your opinions become respected in any argument or discussion because you are a law student at Makerere!

Letters from Uganda: Monica Athieno's 1st Semester

In 2010 Ms. JD launched the Global Education Fund to enable women in developing countries to pursue legal educations who otherwise would not have access to further education.  Monica Athieno is one of the 2010-2011 Ms. JD International Scholars being supported by the GEF's inaugural grant to Makerere University in Uganda.  Here are her reflections on her first semester.

My first day in Makerere University and the School of Law in particular was a mixture of emotions. I was overjoyed to be admitted at Makerere University to pursue the Law Degree and yet deep down in my mind I was wondering who is going to pay my fees. The first two months in Law School were very difficult for me as I was trying to find my ‘bearing’; especially looking for tuition and accommodation.

In the face of the above difficulties, my prayers were answered when Ms. JD offered to sponsor my fees. I was extremely glad because my dream of pursuing the law degree was now being fulfilled. November 20th, 2011 will be a memorable day in my life when during the launch of the Female Scholarship Foundation; I was officially awarded the Ms. JD International Scholarship. If I may quote my maternal uncle who accompanied me;

“Monica, I am so delighted for this wonderful offer. God has indeed heard our prayers. The rest is now up to you girl, do not disappoint your family and above all Ms. JD.”

My entire family was so glad to read about my scholarship in the newspaper. My appreciation goes to Makerere University and particularly to the Gender Mainstreaming Directorate and Ms. JD. I look at them now as my ‘new parents’. I have two words to say to them, Thank You!

Regarding my studies in the first semester, we were introduced to five subjects as follows: Development studies, Introducing law, principles of constitutional law, the law of contracts, Fundamentals of criminal law. Let me briefly explain what I learned in each subject:

In Development Studies, I was able to learn a number of development theories and one thing I realized is that one has to be updated about matters taking place around the globe. I also got to know about the development trends in Africa overtime; from post Colonial times to the present day. And we studied what the third world countries are doing to boost development and the role of donors towards development.