No Bar To Women

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday April 9, 2003

Rosanna McGlone-Healey

Flexible work arrangements and learning programs enable females to have the best of both worlds. Rosanna McGlone-Healey

Women are flocking to law schools and the number of female students is now at record levels. At the College of Law, female registrations for 2003 courses thus far account for more than 60 per cent of total enrolments, says the college's managing director, Neville Carter.

"Female enrolments in the college's practical legal training program have been on the rise since 1998," he says.

In a profession renowned for its long hours and strong male culture, what are the chances of women staying on the job long-term? Legal firms such as Blake Dawson Waldron are working hard to make it happen.

Partner Elizabeth Broderick is head of the company's legal technology group and former Telstra NSW Business Woman of the Year. "Maternity breaks need not limit your career," says Broderick. "However, if staff take extended leave to rear a child - as many of our people do - it's important to stay up to date with legal developments in your chosen field."

The company offers partners and staff on leave access to its learning and development program and, Broderick says, provides them with a mobile phone and laptop to allow them to stay connected.

"What's more, you need to be supported on your return to work. At BDW, we have a raft of policies to promote career sustainability. This includes a flexible work-options policy covering job sharing, part-time work and working from home. We currently have 13 per cent of our people working in a flexible arrangement."

Other companies are also aware of the need to balance work and lifestyle issues. Employment and industrial relations specialist ABLawyers was recently awarded the Law Society of NSW's Equal Opportunity Award and an award for work/life balance.

Olga Ganopolsky is a senior advocate and has been with ABLawyers for three years. "As a working mother, I'm forever balancing my obligations. It's a constant process of negotiation and flexibility. As long as work is done on time and clients' needs are met, there's generally no requirement to be seen in the office.

"I have a real opportunity to work in a manner that's more consistent with my lifestyle," says Ganopolsky. "For example, I can write my advice in the evening when my young child is asleep. When [my son] Nicholas starts school, I hope to adjust my work pattern to incorporate his school activities."

She says an important factor in her job satisfaction is the company's attainable targets.

"Although we have financial goals like any other firm, we have the satisfaction of knowing that we can meet our budget as our base line is set at working 5.5 hours, unlike the usual seven to 7.5. You can work more effectively and there's less burnout," she says.

However, some areas of the legal profession are more compatible with family life than others. "Transactional areas require practitioners to be on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, particularly during major deals. This can make it very difficult to balance work and family responsibilities," Broderick says.