For the past century, each year on 8 March events are held all around the world to mark International Women’s Day - to celebrate and reflect on the social, economic, political and cultural achievements of women.

Here in Australia, the early 1900s marked the beginning of the journey of Australian women in the legal profession, as laws began changing to allow women to practise law and stand for Parliament. There have been many key milestones for women in law, from the turn of the last century to the present day. We have much to celebrate, which needs to be acknowledged, but still more to achieve. Women lawyers today are entering a profession which offers so much more for them than the one I entered almost 40 years ago.

The theme for this year’s IWD celebrations is #EachforEqual, based on the premise that an equal world is an enabled world. On Monday 16 March, the Law Society will host an IWD breakfast event, “In Conversation with Leigh Sales AM”. Leigh Sales is one of Australia’s most respected and well-known journalists, anchor of the ABC’s 7:30 report, an award-winning author, and co-host of the popular Chat 10, Looks 3 podcast with Annabel Crabb. Tickets for the event are now available. I have no doubt they will sell out quickly, so I encourage all to jump online, book your seat, and help us celebrate IWD 2020.

Later this week, the Law Society is hosting the first of a series of meetings with the presidents of our 29 regional law societies to discuss issues of importance to the legal profession, local members and the community. Our network of regional law societies ensures the work of the Law Society is directly relevant and accessible to practitioners, no matter where they are in the state. Our country solicitors play a significant role in our regional areas, working tirelessly for local communities and clients whose lives are made more precarious by events such as floods, droughts, bushfires and other natural disasters.

What’s already become clear, in my recent discussions with regional solicitors, who are also dealing with their own challenges in their practices as a result of the ongoing drought, is that solicitors, farmers, businesses, families and entire communities are all under enormous pressure.

Richard Harvey, Law Society President

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