The Gazette 1978

JULY-AUGUST 1978

GAZETTE

This editorial poses questions to man, but it has to be admitted that even a woman may have similar prejudices against other women. These prejudices must be fought by the legal profession in particular and by Society in general. Women have a right on pure merit to every position in the profession occupied by a man. They have the right to equal remuneration and so far as concerns the attitude of clients, the clients must be educated to accepting their equal role. Not such a difficult problem, once the lawyers accept that their role is .equal. It should finally be admitted that this editorial is written by a man who will also admit that when answering the six questions posed above, not all his answers were "no preference". S.A.C. The author of your article "for reasons not altogether abstruse" preferred to remain anonymous. For similar reasons I have no such reservations. Yours faithfully, Stanley A. Crossick, Secretary-General, International Union of Lawyers. N.B. Any communication on this matter should be addressed to: 3 Park Crescent Mews East, London WIN 5HB. Tel.: 4936637. Dear Sir, The letter from your male correspondent in the last issue on the above subject appeared reasoned and logical. It was neither accurate nor fair however. I would make the following points in reply:— 1. your correspondent regards it as a fault that a female should have chosen a legal qualification as providing the basis for a more challenging career than an arts degree. Why for heaven's sake? How many successful Solicitors as youths of seventeen possessed a genuine interest in the study of juris prudence? 2. Female Solicitors are accused of not working to the satisfaction of clients. This is an amazing attack upon the female character generally. I do not wish to err by generalising in turn, but I feel that a woman will be at least as conscientious as a man in attending to the business of her clients. Constantly to deprive an assistant Solicitor of personal contact with any client however and to restrict him to researching abstruse points of law for his employer is to* abuse his enthusiasm for the job. How can a young person work to the satisfaction of a client if he has never made that client's acquaintance? 3. I do not wish to start a mud slinging match about the comparative office hours worked by males and females. Hours of work differ from person to person and bear no relation to the sex of the worker. It is as foolish to suggest that all lady Solicitors powder their noses and leave the office promptly at 5.30 whatever the crisis, as to reply that the female midday break is of shorter duration. 4. Your correspondent complains that the lady Solicitor does not occupy her leisure hours in improving her knowledge of law. I would submit that any female would be as anxious to read up on relevant legal developments as a male. However, any Solicitor who (concluded on page 122) 11th August, 1978.

Union International Des Avocats, Palais de Justice, Bruxelles, Belgium 31st August, 1978.

Dear Sir, I read with interest the article "Women and the Law" at page 107 of your June issue. The following text was my editorial which appeared in the UIA Bulletin No. 4 of 1975, which your readers may find pertinent. THE WOMAN LAWYER 1975 was United Nations' International Woman's Year. Has the woman lawyer free access to the legal profession? Are there any restrictions or discriminations against women practising in the profession? Need the legal profession have participated in 1975 International Woman's Year? We all know the answers to the first three questions and these answers dictate the answer to the fourth question, which is an unequivocable yes. The United Nations is seeking to promote both national and international action is eliminating forms of discrimination against women. As a non-governmental organisation of the United Nations, the U.I.A. has of course played its part and indeed co-Operated with the International Bar Association to avoid duplication of effort. Our efforts originally initiated by Vice-President, Ernest ARENDT, were then led by our very effective and charming Genevieve AUGENDRE, whose position in our organisation proves that we are not entirely male dominated. But, is there one present or past President, Vice- President, Secretary-General, Assistant Secretary or Treasurer from the fairer sex? The fact that there has not been is not in itself a condemnation of the U.I.A., bearing in mind that most positions in the U.I.A. result from candidates being put forward by their own group members. If you are a man try answering the following questions: 1. Would you prefer to be judged in court by a man or a woman? 2. Would you prefer to consult a man or a woman lawyer on a matrimonial dispute? 3. Would you prefer to consult a man or a woman on a commercial problem? 4. When you engage a student or newly qualified lawyer in your office, which sex would you prefer where there are two equal candidates? 5. Would your answer to this last question be the same if they were to receive the same salary? 6. Would you prefer to work for a man or a woman? Now assuming that your answer to all these questions is not "no preference", ask yourself why. You many attempt to rationalise your answer. Women do not so easily gain a client's confidence; they may become pregnant, etc. The simple answer is, of course, prejudice — prejudice in general, or prejudice in not accepting the place of women in Society, the responsibilities which they carry out to Society, and the responsibilities which Society must accept in their regard.

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