by Farsai Powthong

According to Law Society Gender Statistics^[1] there is a 300% increase in female solicitors in the decade 1995-2015, with only a 59% increase in male solicitors. However, equivalent representation as firm principals or in leadership and pay equity, remain problematic.

Automation has impacted women in legal practice in many ways including job displacement. Deloitte’s data indicate that around 25% of female law graduates were legal associates and legal secretaries, compare to 18% for men^[2]. These positions are mainly routine legal work which could potentially be replaced by automation.

The Women of Australian Legal Technology Association (WALTA) event reflects on the number of women in different positions in Legal Tech compared to men.

On Friday 20 August 2021, Karen Finch, the vice president of WALTA hosted the Think Tank event, where around 40 female lawyers in Legal Tech discussed potential steps to tackle gender inequality in this industry.^[3]  Government funding is essential to support female founders in LegalTech. As there is a lack of funding that goes into female founders in legal innovation and technology. Munisami (2020)^[4] also makes some recommendations on how law societies, bar associations, and regulatory bodies could ensure that LegalTech encourages equality and diversity in legal professions.

Organizations like WALTA, may urge the government to increase its funding for female founders, empower female voices to be heard, and increase visibility of women in LegalTech. Incentives and awards should be given to female entrepreneurship in LegalTech to promote a way forward of alternative business structures, which are more suitable and preferable for women lawyers.

[1] https://www.lawsociety.com.au/advocacy-and-resources/advancement-of-women/gender-statistics

[2] Deloitte, “Developing legal talent: Stepping into the future law firm” (February 2016), online:

<https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/uk/Documents/audit/deloitte-uk-developing-legal-talent-2016.pdf>;

[3] https://alta.law/women-of-australian-legal-technology-association/#_ftn1

[4] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345192317_Legal_Technology_and_the_Future_of_Women_in_Law