Letter from the editor

A new era...

The American author and critic, Mayra Mannes, once wrote: “Nobody objects to a woman being a good writer or sculptor or geneticist if at the same time she manages to be a good wife, a good mother, good-looking, good-tempered, well-dressed, well-groomed, and unaggressive.”
It was a tell-tale insight into the many limitations women of her time faced on a daily basis. This was the 1960s — a period often referred to as ‘second wave feminism’ — when women may have gained the right to vote but still fought for equality in many other aspects of their lives, from the workplace to the home.
Fast-forward 40 years and it is remarkable how little has changed. Even in the 21st century reducing the gap between the perception of, and opportunities given to, women and men is a concern for many, as gender-based discriminations such as fewer rights, lower income and less access to resources and decision-making continue to plague women the world over. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the workplace, where complaints about an ever-present ‘glass ceiling’ preventing women from progressing up the career ladder, have now become commonplace. And the traditionally male-dominated legal sector is by no means exempt from such discrimination, as a simple search through the archive of any national newspaper would seem to prove. Law firms worldwide are oft accused of allowing gender-based discriminatory practices to continue unchallenged in the workplace.
It is for that reason that we have launched Women Legal magazine, a publication dedicated to aiding the advancement of women in the legal profession. By providing a vehicle for the sharing of best practices and opinions, as well as expert, practical guidance, we want to give women working in the legal sector across the world the recognition that they deserve.
The Women Legal editorial team is working to provide you with a valuable resource that can be used in your day-to-day activities, and as an online reference. At the heart of our success in achieving this goal is you, the reader, so if you have any issues that you are keen to address, or that you would like Women Legal to explore, please do get in touch. Similarly, if you would like to share any of your own experiences, contribute news items to our news section or have any feedback or comment for our letters page, you can contact me at lmcnulty@ark-group.com.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the first issue of the magazine and look forward to receiving your comments and feedback in the future. Many thanks also to those who have contributed articles and helped with the launch of the magazine.

Lucy McNulty, Editor.

Features

Profile: Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox Free
Originally from Women Legal Volume 1 Issue 1:

Profile: Gibbons P.C. Free
Originally from Women Legal Volume 1 Issue 1:

The last word: Born business boosters This article is for subscribers only
Originally from Women Legal Volume 1 Issue 1:

Lifestyle: Say yes to less stress This article is for subscribers only
Originally from Women Legal Volume 1 Issue 1:

Opinion: A simple secret to success This article is for subscribers only
Originally from Women Legal Volume 1 Issue 1:

Q&A: Carla Christofferson This article is for subscribers only
Originally from Women Legal Volume 1 Issue 1:

Case study: Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP This article is for subscribers only
Originally from Women Legal Volume 1 Issue 1:

Masterclass: Preparing for partnership This article is for subscribers only
Originally from Women Legal Volume 1 Issue 1:

Case study: Deacons This article is for subscribers only
Originally from Women Legal Volume 1 Issue 1:

Special focus: Researching racism This article is for subscribers only
Originally from Women Legal Volume 1 Issue 1:

Profile: Peggy Cohen This article is for subscribers only
Originally from Women Legal Volume 1 Issue 1:

Cover feature: A woman's world? This article is for subscribers only
Originally from Women Legal Volume 1 Issue 1:

Q & A: Lauren Stiller Rikleen This article is for subscribers only
Originally from Women Legal Volume 1 Issue 1:

Thought Leader: Diversity, a future focus This article is for subscribers only
Originally from Women Legal Volume 1 Issue 1: