Lawyer Monthly - Women In Law Special Edition

WOMEN IN LAW EDITION LAWYER MONTHLY 83 afford in great, reliable childcare. This will leave you free to focus on work – and help to alleviate some of the inevitable guilt. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO EMPOWER OTHER WOMEN Do not fall into the ‘unconscious bias’ that sometimes hold the female workforce back. I haven’t experienced this from other women within the profession, but here is an example. My daughter was off school sick and my husband had taken her to our local GP. After he had given her a brief run-down of symptoms, the female GP looked at my husband in a disapproving way, then at my daughter with sympathy and asked ‘I’m just wondering, where is her mum?!’ It was 10am on a Tuesday morning and it had not crossed this (fellow professional) woman’s mind that I might be at work! Sadly, this story shows that society still has some way to go before men and women are seen as equals, both on the work and domestic front. BE KIND TO PEOPLE ON YOUR WAY UP Whatever your position – trainee or partner – no one wants to work with someone who is angry, difficult or rude. Being reasonable, considerate and fair will earn you far more respect from colleagues in the long term. INVEST TIME IN YOUR LIFE OUTSIDE WORK However busy and focused you are on work, always cherish and invest time in your life outside work, whatever that is – partner, family, friends, travel or sport. On my more difficult days, I take immense comfort from the life I have away from the office! Emma is a Partner at Byrne and Partners LLP, specialising in corporate fraud, white collar crime and regulatory work. This includes defending prosecutions brought by the Serious Fraud Office, the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, HM Revenue and Customs, the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency. She advises and represents clients, pre and post-charge, in relation to allegations of serious fraud, corruption, money laundering, confiscation and restraint orders and all other areas of business crime.