At a breakfast organised by Alessandri Abogados, the results of a study that revealed the labour perceptions of female law students in Chile were discussed. Experts highlighted the role of law firms in promoting female leadership, gender justice and pro bono work.
Alessandri Abogados organised a breakfast to show the results of a quantitative study on the employment perceptions of female law students across the country. The aim of the survey was to understand the main motivations and barriers related to the incorporation and working career of female lawyers in law firms and to reveal the working conditions they look for when applying for a job; the perception they have of law firms as a place to work; the elements required to facilitate their permanence and the factors that allow them to have a career development within the firms. The event was attended by female lawyers from the firm, partners from Chilean law firms and in-house lawyers from various companies.
Loreto Cornejo, psychologist and gender expert, was in charge of presenting the findings of the study, which revealed revealing data on the expectations and challenges of female students. ‘This study shows us the gap between what female students aspire to and what they perceive in law firms. It is essential that private law firms act as engines of change, making female leadership visible and creating conditions that allow for their full development,’ said Cornejo.
During the conversation, female leadership was highlighted as a crucial factor to generate changes in the structure of law firms. Francisca Junemann, executive president of Fundación ChileMujeres, emphasised: ‘changes are made by the leaders, and it is vital that more women become partners in law firms. From there, they can promote equal pay and opportunities, and ensure fair professional development for all.
Macarena Gatica, partner at Alessandri, underlined the importance of female leadership: ‘It is essential that women in law firms take on leadership roles. Only from there will we be able to change the perception that students have and create an environment that promotes equal opportunities and fairness in the workplace’.
In addition, Macarena emphasised the importance of women’s participation in university teaching, pointing out that the majority of professors at universities are men and belong to law firms. ‘We, as women, must participate more, teach more classes, and make female leadership visible inside and outside of academia,’ she said.
Another topic discussed was the importance of fairness within law firms, both in the treatment and social responsibility of firms. ‘Women lawyers have a yearning for justice that motivates us, and it is crucial that law firms promote a culture of fairness in the workplace. It is not about giving everyone the same, but about giving everyone their fair share,’ Junemann added.
Francisca also highlighted the importance of making pro bono work more visible: ‘The other thing that needs to be made more visible is the social contribution of law firms. Law students who want to go to the public sector should know that law firms also contribute to the common good with pro bono work, which is not only limited to seeing particular cases of clients. Today it is not visible that law firms also handle draft legislation, and that is what we need to make more visible.
The event concluded with an exchange of ideas among the attendees, who discussed the importance of teleworking and flexible working as key tools to encourage the inclusion of more women in law firms. The need for joint work between men and women to achieve a real cultural change in the workplace was also mentioned.
Teleworking and flexible working are essential for both men and women to develop in law firms. We need both women and men to work together to achieve greater equality,’ concluded Francisca Junemann.
Review the results of the study
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