Flexible working has been at the forefront of everyone’s minds since the pandemic and in our recent research report at Realm, we found that it is now the most important factor for lawyers when changing jobs. Flexible working (or lack of) used to be a large barrier to female lawyers with 91% of respondents to the 2017/18 survey believing that a flexible working culture is critical to improving diversity.
In Realm’s research, we found a staggering 82% of lawyers being encouraged to still work from home. It will be interesting to see if it remains this way as we move on from the pandemic, however, the demand is certainly there for it to remain. Flexible working allows lawyers to fit their work around their schedule and other parts of their lives, away from work. This can allow women to have families and pursue other interests and goals away from the workplace, but still progress and succeed within their legal careers.
Is the future bright?
Just over 100 years ago women weren’t allowed to vote, own a house or practise law, since then it has been an arduous climb to get to where we are, however there is still more to do. In the early years after the decision to allow women the right to vote, changing perception was still difficult but with spotlights being shone everywhere and more and more women role models guiding the way, the opportunities for women in law and in the world alike are constantly improving.
