Law Society response to the Women Lawyers of Western Australia’s 20th Anniversary Review of the 1994 Chief Justice’s Gender Bias Taskforce Review

Law Society response to the Women Lawyers of Western Australia’s 20th Anniversary Review of the 1994 Chief Justice’s Gender Bias Taskforce Review

In September 2014, Women Lawyers of Western Australia Inc. released its 20th Anniversary Review of the 1994 Report of the Chief Justice’s Taskforce on Gender Bias (known as the 2014 Gender Bias Review Report or GBRR). Chapter 2 of the GBRR deals with ‘Career Paths for Women in the Legal Profession’. It contains a total of 42 recommendations covering:

  • Women in academia
  • Graduates/articled clerks
  • Practice issues facing women
  • Maternity leave
  • Large commercial law firms
  • Sexual harassment
  • Women at the Bar
  • Gender bias in the office of the DPP and SSO
  • Conditions of work including salaries and drawings
  • Availability of career support
  • The changed culture of the profession
  • Women leaders in the law

The contents of the Law Society’s Final Directions Paper identifies the opportunities between the actions taken by the Law Society and the recommendations in chapter 2, as well as make practical proposals for the Law Society to progress in accordance with the recommendations.

This report is timely in terms of developing a plan to address the Law Society’s strategic campaign of ‘Diversity and Inclusion’, as well as the objectives of the Law Council of Australia’s ‘Inclusiveness and Diversity’ Programme.

The Final Directions Paper is now available.

Area
Telephone Number
Law Society of Western Australia Reception
(08) 9324 8600
Law Mutual
(08) 9481 3111
Continuing Professional Development
(08) 9324 8640
Membership Services
(08) 9324 8692
Professional Standards Scheme
(08) 9324 8653
Old Court House Law Museum
(08) 9324 8688
Francis Burt Law Education Programme
(08) 9324 8686
Media Enquiries
(08) 9324 8650