Johnian co-founds first-of-its-kind network for women in law

A new network to promote the retention of women in the legal profession in London has been co-founded by a St John's College graduate.

Suzanne Szczetnikowicz (BA 2005, MA 2008), Senior Associate of Shearman & Sterling LLP, is Vice-Chair of a committee of five female founders of Women in Law London (WILL) which held its launch event in the Andaz Hotel in London on 17 October. The independent network, considered the first of its kind, was set up 'by associates for associates' with the aim of 'promoting and engaging the next generation of women leaders in law'. It is open to all qualified women solicitors working in private practice or in-house in London.

There is currently a high attrition rate of female talent in the legal profession, with women constituting over half of entrants and just 17.6% of equity partnership positions in July 2013. WILL was established to provide pre-partnership women lawyers with the opportunity to meet with more experienced members of the profession (known as WILL Champions) to enable mentoring relationships to develop over time and to provide access to female role models from whom junior lawyers can learn and be inspired, thereby encouraging and equipping the next generation of women lawyers to reach their fullest potential.

"We're passionate about ensuring talent retention at the highest level," said Suzanne, "but we also recognise that women in law will also have individual and varied ultimate goals."

Since it was launched online 18 July 2014, WILL has gained over 1300 members and Champions from around 350 firms and businesses in London. Large quarterly events are being organised to comprise panel discussions, keynote speeches and debates as well as smaller events that will help to facilitate relationship building on a more informal basis. WILL will also welcome male lawyers to certain events as WILL recognises that the initiative can only be successful with the full support of the profession as a whole. A survey of the WILL membership will be undertaken in Spring 2015 to establish a better understanding of the range of factors at play in the decision-making process for female lawyers in the early stages of their careers.

The official launch in London attracted 160 guests, and the networking event included a speech from the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Fiona Woolf CBE, who spoke of her tenure's focus on bringing diversity to the City and her experiences as a solicitor. Mary-Ann Wright, the Chair of the Women Lawyers Division of the Law Society, spoke of the work the WLD is doing to improve retention rates in the profession, and the Chair of WILL, Sascha Grimm, a Robinson alumni, also presented on WILL and what the WILL Committee believes can be achieved. The Christmas event is scheduled to take place on 9 December in Shoreditch and WILL is delighted that Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, will be presenting for International Women's Day on 4 March 2015.

For more information about WILL visit http://www.womeninlawlondon.com/home.html and follow WILL on twitter @WomeninLawLon