Today is the most anticipated day for women all over the world and organisations encouraging women empowerment and equality. Despite women being celebrated daily (because let's be honest - women are extraordinary!), March 8 is set aside as International Women's Day.
I won't keep you with a long preamble but I just want to say a MASSIVE thank you to the phenomenal women who are apart of my special post - lawyers I have worked with, my lecturers, phenomenal women I've met through the internet, and not forgetting my friends.
I hope that girls and other women interested in a career in the legal field and come across this post feel motivated and encouraged as we work towards BALANCE FOR BETTER.
First of all ; HOW COOL ARE MY LECTURERS?
Gauri is currently working as a Senior Lecturer in Law at Kingston University. Originally from Delhi, India, she has always been passionate about justice and has had strong opinions from a very young age. Although law seemed like a natural career option for her, her legal career has been anything but predictable. Graduating with an LLB degree from the University of Delhi in 2007, Gauri launched herself straight into qualifying as a barrister and practicing in the Supreme Court of India. She worked on several fascinating cases, but her thirst for knowledge was not quenched. She began questioning why some areas of law are better implemented than others; and why theory and reality are two different concepts in law. She hoped to find these answers during her LLM degree, which brought her to the University of Durham, UK. This was a life changing year for Gauri. It opened doors to a world of opportunities, which were scary yet exciting at the same time. Gauri decided to take on the challenge, and went on to complete a PhD in Law (specialising in anti-money laundering) from City University, London over the next few years. In true 'Gauri style', she had to make life difficult for her- so along with a full time PhD, she also worked full time on projects that were in the same area as her PhD research, at several global organisations, including PriceWaterhouse Coopers and the World Bank. She soon realised that there are only 24 hours in a day and she needs to pick a passion- this is when she decided to move on to academia. The corporate world, whilst defined by glamour, fancy meetings and high-rise London offices, could not match the satisfaction of a good lecture. Soon after she joined Kingston, Gauri was invited by the Government of Jamaica to propose amendments to their financial crime laws- a project she considers her biggest achievement so far. It is what she always dreamt of- to make a difference to the legal system! Gauri is a new mum and balancing a legal career with an adorable baby girl is hard, but there is nothing else she would rather do.
** Gauri taught me Contract Law in my first year and currently teaches me Commercial Law.
Konstantina comes from Kalamata, Greece, a beautiful sunny place by the sea. She always thought she would focus on a profession relating to engineering, but once she started studying ancient Greek, she was attracted more to the idea of law. After completing her undergraduate law degree in Athens, she then took exams for a national scholarship, which ended up being the basis for the funding of her studies for an LLM in European Law and a PhD at the University of Nottingham, with focus on pension rights of migrant workers. Konstantina was extremely lucky with her supervisors (Professor Tamara Hervey and Professor Jeffrey Kenner), the people she met and the friends she made. She has been working at Kingston University since 2008. It is a lovely place to come to work to every day. The interaction with the students has always provided an incredible joy, inspiration and motivation to keep trying to do better.
** Konstantina taught me English Legal Systems and Methods in my first year and taught part of our European Law module in second year.
Belen currently the head of the Kingston University Law Department, and I have the distinct honour of also calling her my personal tutor. [Bio pending]
PRACTISING LAWYERS
Exactly one year ago on International Women's Day 2018, Alberta A.G.S Richelieu was called to the Bar of England and Wales and later St. Lucia.
She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies. She studied Economics and Law for her undergraduate degree and later a Master of Science degree in International Trade Policy. Her legal journey began at the London Waterloo Campus of BPP University where she completed her Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), then completed her Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) at the London Bloomsbury campus of The University of Law. Miss Richelieu’s expertise goes beyond the law. She currently serves as the St. Lucian Ambassador to the African Caribbean Pacific - Young Professional Network (ACP-YPN) and works with the Aspire Artemis Foundation, a non-profit organisation working to promote youth and women empowerment. She is also a mentor at Debate Mate an international education organisation dedicated to improving social mobility.
Sueanna Frederick is an Attorney-at-law who resides and currently practices in Saint Lucia.
Upon graduating from the Plain View Combined School, Ms Frederick attended the St. Joseph's Convent. During her time at that educational institution, she served in numerous capacities for various groups including the St.Lucia Red Cross Youth (St. Joseph's Convent Chapter).Thereafter, Ms Frederick attended the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College where she was recognized for her stellar performance, having secured positions on the Honours List in each consecutive term.
She also completed the Teaching Children Effectively (TCE) Level One Course, which enabled her to engage in community outreach by way of hosting and assisting in the teaching of religious education in the communities of La-Ressource Vieux-Fort and Banse La Grace, Laborie.
Ms Frederick pursued her passion by enrolling in the Faculty of Law at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus. At the University of The West Indies Ms Frederick continued her journey of academic excellence. She was awarded the Joseph Archibald Q.C Prize in Public International Law and the Joseph Archibald QC prize in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Ms Frederick also participated in various in-house mooting competitions, including The 2013 UWI Cave Hill Mooting Competition and the Clarke Gitten Farmer Mooting competition where she received prizes for Best Oralist, Best First Year Memorial and was the joint recipient of the award for 2nd place team.
Ms Frederick's academic exploits, however, did not deter her from participating in numerous extra-curricular activities such as the Braille course offered by the UWI's Students Services division. She was also an active member of the Saint Lucian Students Association at Cavehill, where she served as the Public Relations Officer for one year. Notably, Ms Frederick also graduated from the UWI with her Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours).
Thereafter Ms Frederick graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School (“HWLS”), where she obtained her Legal Education Certificate. Ms. Frederick was admitted to practice in St. Lucia Bar in October 2018. Ms Frederick is a staunch advocate for the preservation of the environment and the rights of women, children and the elderly. She also intends to further her studies in the fields of environmental law and mediation, and has aspirations of becoming a qualified mediator.
** Sueanna was my Rank Prefect one year while I attended St. Joseph's Convent.
Isa Cyril currently serves as one of St. Lucia's Crown Prosecutors. [Bio pending]
LAW STUDENT BLOGGER
Ellis is the founder of Blogging My Way Through The LLB! She is a final year law student with aspirations to become a family barrister! She started blogging towards the end of her first year of university and it has grown from there! There are lots of women who have inspired Ellis on her journey through the law- from barristers who she has shadowed who do an incredible job balancing the demands of a family and a difficult career in law, to Lady Hale herself.
Message from Ellis : “Ladies, keep being wonderful, sparkle and shine and be your incredible selves!” “Celebrating another woman’s triumphs or success will never take away from your shine or glory. If anything, it’ll add to it and create more light”
MY QUEEN'S YOUNG LEADERS FAMILY
Antonia Michailidi is one of the phenomenal young women I have had the pleasure of meeting last year! She is a 22-year-old law student from Larnaca, Cyprus. She is currently completing her master’s degree at the University of Maastricht, on Corporate and Commercial Law. On the 27th of June 2018, Antonia was awarded by Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II, at the Buckingham Palace in London, UK. Antonia received this award for her work as a Translator for the organisation One Woman At A Time (OWAAT), the world’s first international online self-help human rights toolbox aimed at empowering abused women to file for no contact and divorce. Antonia has also co-founded the Humanitarian Aid Program, a student-initiative which aims to improve the living conditions of refugees in Cyprus and bring awareness to the issues they are facing, as they integrate in the Cypriot community.
GREAT WOMEN BEYOND THE LAW!
I currently serve as the President of the Kingston University Law Society and have had the pleasure of meeting many graduate recruiters, social media managers and other university lecturers over the past six months.
Hannah Pike is the Student Recruitment Manager for The University of Law at their Guildford & Reading campuses. A graduate of The University of Surrey in English Literature, her career has spanned across all manners of roles in Customer Service, Account Management, Events and now at ULaw.
Not legally trained herself, Hannah has knowledge and skills in other areas which has assisted her in the role she is in now. Her favourite elements of her role include the relationships she has built with all of the Law Societies (like Kingston!), the law schools at universities and the law firms, meeting them at various events which she attends.
If Hannah were to be a lawyer, she would probably want to work in Family Law, as it is an area which attracts her and sounds very interesting. Hannah has considered attempting the GDL many times but doesn’t quite think she would get through it!
After graduating from English Literature, Bethany began working at LawCareers.Net in communications and events. Now she still manages LCN’s social media and events, but also write content for the website and our publications, which relates to my passion for writing and words (She's currently studying a Creative Writing MA part-time!). She really enjoy working in the legal graduate recruitment industry, and being able to help aspiring lawyers through our information, resources and events. She particularly like working with student law societies at universities all over the UK, which culminates in the annual Student Law Society Awards taking place next week! Plenty of people who work for our wider company (Globe Business Media Group) originally studied law but now work in the legal publishing industry – it’s a great way to use different skills from your degree and pursue an alternative career, or if you’re like me – to learn about a completely different sector!
** By the way, if you're a law student I would 100% recommend visiting www.lawcareers.net. there are so many tools catered to law students.
Samantha Hope is the graduate recruitment manager at Shoosmiths, where she has been running the trainee solicitor programme for nearly nine years. Shoosmiths has grown in that time from a regional firm to a large national firm with 11 UK offices, and as a result, Samantha’s role has broadened to encapsulate the changing environment that graduate recruiters now find themselves working in.
By developing the firm’s digital attraction strategy through the use of social media, Samantha remains one of the most well-known figures for engaging with candidates using Instagram and live videos to provide a service akin to coaching and a glimpse of what it’s like to work in a law firm.
Winner of the ‘Best Social Media’ award by All About Law for two years in a row (2017 & 2018) and now nominated for ‘Best Use of Social Media’ by Legal Cheek, and Target Jobs in 2019, it’s easy to see that Samantha really is an innovator in this industry, disrupting the existing legal recruitment market, breathing fresh advice and interesting content into an overpopulated feed of memes and cat videos!
I asked Samantha for her thoughts on what International Women’s Day meant to her, here’s what she said: “I have worked with some incredibly inspiring women who have turned out to be real role models to me. You may think a role model needs to do something extraordinary to inspire others, but more often than not, it’ll be working alongside a person who is putting 100% into themselves and encouraging you to do the same, or someone whose actions show that it is possible to balance a professional career and children. Women who are striving for more and bringing others with them, and people who build each other up are people I want to spend time with – they spark joy!”
Samantha describes herself on her LinkedIn profile as “passionate about social recruiting and digital engagement, and widening participation in law” to get to know her more you can follow her on LinkedIn or Twitter @SamanthaHope1.
STUDENT PROFILES
We're all here working at the dream of being qualified lawyers hoping to change the lives of our future clients and maybe even the wider community.
I hope you are as inspired by these great WOMEN IN LAW as I am.
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY TO EVERY WOMAN ON THIS PLANET ! WE ARE FORCES TO BE RECKONED WITH !
- Your favourite Unicorn
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