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Royaume Uni / United Kingdom / Vereinigtes Königreich

Profile in members database: Judith Willis
E-mail: UnitedKingdom@ewla.org or GeneralSecretary@ewla.org


C.V.

My work for women lawyers

As a feminist, I have been active in working for the benefit of women in my branch of the English legal system and beyond since qualifying as a solicitor in 1983.
During my training and early practice I personally (and unexpectedly) encountered discrimination at work and resolved to be pro-active in reducing this through both strategic and practical means.

At the strategic level, I have

  • Been a member of the Law Society’s* Equal Opportunities Committee from 1998 until 2003, considering the ways in which our profession can improve the position of all of its less favourably treated members, including women
  • Been a member of the Association of Women Solicitors (AWS) Working Party – a group providing policy-based responses to consultation papers from national bodies such as the Legal Aid Board, the Law Society (solicitors’ representative organization) and the Government.
  • Sat on the Legal Working Group of the UK’s Maternity Alliance (a charity and lobby group) for a number of years, examining ways the legal system could be used to benefit mothers
  • Researched specifically into women solicitors and work-life balance, seeking persuasive business justification for flexible employment opportunities
  • Attended conferences in Europe on equality/mainstreaming issues such as Article 13 of the Amsterdam Treaty
  • Was invited to attend the first World Women Lawyers Conference run by the International Bar Association in London in 2001
  • Given evidence to a Government enquiry on the English system for judicial appointments
  • Become a founder member of EWLA.

    At the practical level, I have

  • Run the AWS Maternity Helpline for 10 years. This provides free advice and support to solicitors whose employment is threatened by their maternity.
  • Been a member of the annual Women Lawyers Forum’s organising committee – a weekend conference in London attended by all sectors of the English legal profession
  • Organised and run numerous conferences for the AWS aimed at enhancing career opportunities for women solicitors
  • Participated as a mentor in the AWS mentoring scheme.



    Association of Women Solicitors work

    In 1998-1999 I chaired the AWS. The total membership at that time was around 8,000. Through this I developed good, useful profile and links within my branch of the profession and beyond, including
  • considerable contact within the structure of the Law Society,
  • working with colleagues at the Bar (the other major branch of legal practice in England) and
  • contacts with government and non-governmental organisations



    Future work within EWLA

    There are now over 10,000 women lawyers in England who belong to indigenous women lawyers associations, across both main branches of the profession, They have great potential to contribute to the work of EWLA, both strategically and practically. My existing links, grown over the last twenty years, can help realize that potential.

    My academic background makes me well placed to locate expert advice on implications for women of proposed European legislation and policies.

    I can assist in the lobbying function of EWLA through my experience of policy and influence work especially that gained in my year as the national Chair of the AWS.



    Academic Qualifications

    B.A. (Hons) Economics and Politics (1979)
    Admitted as a solicitor (1983)
    M.B.A. (2002)



    Employment experience

    1983-1990 Private practice law, in non-contentious areas, primarily property-based
    1990-today: Legal education. Teaching predominantly the post-graduate stage of solicitors’ training within a London university



    Other experiences

    After 1999 I began study part-time for my MBA. On this I researched the question of work-life balance and its potential within legal practice. I gave a paper on this to EWLA’s Paris conference in 2002.
    I am married with three children (aged 12, 10 and 7).
    I have contributed to society beyond the legal world by chairing committees dealing with issues such as local childrens’ services and social housing, giving me some appreciation of problems faced by women less fortunate than those of us with professional careers.



    Contact details

    Telephone:
    ++44 - (0)20 - 86769887 (home)

    Address:
    38 Wheathill Road
    London
    SE20 7XH
    United Kingdom

    Profile in members database: Judith Willis

    E-mail: UnitedKingdom@ewla.org or GeneralSecretary@ewla.org

    *The Law Society is the governing body for solicitors in England; it has both representational and regulatory functions