International Women's Day Event: Professor Patricia Easteal - Sponsored by Farrar Gesini Dunn

Snapshots of the Australian Legal System and Victims of Family Violence: Colliding Kaleidoscopes and the Gendered Iceberg

An Address by Professor Patricia Easteal AM

Don't miss our event to mark International Women's Day this year - to be held at ANU Commons on 9 March 2017 (the day after the official International Women's Day). 

Patricia will explain how the unconscious gendered filtering of 'reality' in our culture (the iceberg of biases) can militate against the successful translation of the many laws and amendments enacted to better address violence against women. 

Listen to the compelling address by Professor Patricia Easteal AM and then enjoy drinks, canapes and networking. 

The topic is relevant not just to lawyers but also to the community more broadly. To book a place, CLICK HERE

See you there!

WLA ACT is grateful for Farrar Gesini Dunn's sponsorship of this event. 

Mentor Breakfast - Noor Blumer

15 February 2017

Hotel Realm

On 15 February 2017, WLA ACT’s inaugural Woman Lawyer of the Year Award winner, Noor Blumer shared her experience with us at the Hotel Realm.

Noor’s achievements speak for themselves. She finished school at the age of 16 and studied law while working full time and raising children. Noor has served as the President of the ACT Law Society and runs the successful personal injury law practice Blumer’s Lawyers alongside her husband. 

Noor became a lawyer at a time when it was considered a profession ‘not suitable for women’. She recalls a time when women lawyers were not permitted to wear pants to Court and it was not unusual for Noor to find herself in situations where she was the only woman in a room full of men.  

During her period of practice, Noor has seen improvements in the profession for women lawyers but she recognises that there is still a long way to go. Noor’s advice to women lawyers is to support one another and embrace the sisterhood by being part of organisations such as the WLA ACT. Noor believes that the opportunities for her arose as a result of her putting her hand up and getting involved. She encouraged the audience to do the same - you never know what successes might come your way if only you say ‘yes’.

Noor’s advice to managers is to make sure that your staff are treated fairly. The gender pay gap is a reality and it is up to the managers to ensure that women’s contributions are valued.  

WLA ACT would like to extend a warm thank you to Noor for taking the time to share her experience and her insights into the profession.

Mentor Breakfast with Noor Blumer

Mentor Breakfast with Noor Blumer

WLA ACT is pleased to invite you to our first Mentor Breakfast of 2017, with guest speaker Noor Blumer, Director of Blumers Personal Injury Lawyers and 2016 Woman Lawyer of the Year.

Noor Blumer is currently Director of Blumers Personal Injury Lawyers. She moved to Canberra in 2000 and, with her husband Mark Blumer, established the successful and widely-recognised personal injury firm.

Noor finished school at age 16, and later studied law remotely from Griffith, NSW, while at the same time working full time and caring for her children. When she was admitted to practice, she was the only woman lawyer in Griffith and later became the first woman to be a law partner in the entire Riverina district. 

She has served as President of the ACT Law Society, when she was only the second woman to be elected in the Society's history. Her selection as WLA ACT's inaugural Woman Lawyer of the Year 2016 was a surprise to no one, being a leader and inspiration to her peers and the women lawyers who come after her. 

Mentor breakfasts provide our members with the opportunity to hear from a prominent woman in the legal profession and to celebrate and learn from their achievements.

Noor will share her insights on her fascinating career at our first mentor breakfast of the year.

Event Details

Date and time: Wednesday 15 February 2017, 7.45am. 

Venue: National Ballroom 4, Hotel Realm, Canberra. 

Cost: $45 for members and $50 for non-members.

Attendees will be able to claim 1 CPD point in Core Area 3. 

Please click here to purchase tickets.

ACT Women Lawyers Awards Nominees

The Selection Committee has been busy at work on the very difficult task of determining the winners of the ACT Women Lawyers Awards 2016.  

We would like to congratulate all the nominees, and the firms and organisations where they work, for the honour of having your talent, hard work and achievements recognised.

Congratulations to the following lawyers who have been nominated for an award:

• Jane Alver
• Sarah Avery
• Noor Blumer
• Katharine Boiko
• Prudence Buckland
• Clarissa Campbell
• Claire Carton
• Catherine Coles
• Helen Curtis
• Amy Eager
• Emilie Franklin
• Hannah Griffiths
• Nilanka Goonetillake
• Lauren Haywood
• Liz Huang Hughes-Brown
• Magda Kucharska
• Angela Lauman
• Sarah Lynch
• Katrina Marson
• Lisa Manzoney
• Danielle Mildren
• Rachel Noronha
• Dilani Ponniah
• Margie Rowe
• Tamara Sullivan
• Emily Tighe
• Rebecca Tetlow
• Tharanie Vithanage
• Jessica Wolski
• Jessica Wynd

Congratulations to the following firms and organisations who have lawyers nominated for an award or who are themselves nominated: 

• ACT DPP
• ACT Government Solicitor
• ANU College of Law
• Australian Government Solicitor
• Bucket Orange
• Blumers Lawyers
• Chamberlains
• Clayton Utz
• Department of Employment
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Department of Immigration & Border Protection
• Dobinson Davey Clifford Simpson
• Griffin Legal
• Infinity Legal
• Ken Cush & Associates
• King & Wood Mallesons
• Legal Aid Commission ACT
• McInnes Wilson
• Mazengarb Family Lawyers
• University of Canberra
• Watts McCray Lawyers
• Welcome Legal

We look forward to announcing the winners at the Gala Dinner in just over one week's time!

Women Lawyers Awards Gala Dinner Tickets Sold Out

We have recently sold out our Awards Gala Dinner tickets. Our apologies to members and guests who were unable to purchase a ticket in time. 

We look forward to seeing those attending next week, for what is sure to be a wonderful event. 

Women Lawyers Awards Gala Dinner Tickets On Sale

WLA ACT is pleased to announce tickets for the inaugural Women Lawyers Awards Gala Dinner are now on sale.

Gather your friends and colleagues and join us in celebrating the winners of the inaugural ACT Women Lawyers Awards 2016.

We are delighted that our guest speaker for the evening will be author, journalist and broadcaster Annabel Crabb. 

One of Australia's most popular political commentators, Annabel Crabb is the presenter of Kitchen Cabinet. She has worked extensively in newspapers, radio and television and has appeared on Insiders, The Drum, Gruen Nation, Q&A and as stand-in host for 7:30. She graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws degrees. She is the author of several books, including the 2014 non-fiction bestseller 'The Wife Drought', and won a Walkley Award for her Quarterly Essay 'Stop At Nothing: The Life and Adventures of Malcolm Turnbull'.

The Gala Dinner will include a three course meal and drinks.

Event details

Time and Date: 6.30pm for 7pm, Thursday November 3

Location: Kings Hall, Old Parliament House

Dress: After five

Cost: $90 for members

          $110 for non-members

          $900 for tables of 10

Tickets are available for purchase online. 

There are a limited number of tickets available so we encourage you to get in early.

Mentor Breakfast with Katrina Cooper

WLA ACT has the pleasure of inviting you to our first Mentor Breakfast of 2016, with guest speaker Katrina Cooper, Senior Legal Advisor at the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade.

Katrina Cooper is currently the Senior Legal Advisor at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with oversight of international and domestic law issues. She has had a varied career as a diplomat, including postings to Chile, Port Moresby and as Australia’s Ambassador to Mexico. She has also recently been announced as the next Deputy Chief of Mission to Washington DC.

Katrina will share her insights on her career as a lawyer and diplomat, and on her work with the Women in Leadership initiative at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Mentor breakfasts provide our members with the opportunity to hear from a prominent woman in the legal profession and to celebrate and learn from their achievements.

Event Details

Date and time: Tuesday, 10 May 2016, 7.30am to 8.30am. 

Venue: Assembly Room, Hyatt Hotel, Canberra. 

Cost: $45 for members and $50 for non-members.

Attendees will be able to claim 1 CPD point in Core Area 3. 

Please click here to purchase tickets.

Event flyer

WLA proud to support Skye Saunders and her book 'Whispers from the Bush'

On Friday 11 March 2016, the WLA ACT, in conjunction with Legal Aid ACT and the Women's Legal Centre, celebrated the launch of Dr. Skye Saunders’ new publication – aptly titled “Whispers from the Bush”.  WLA ACT was proud to support Skye and all her hard work and dedication in raising awareness surrounding the workplace sexual harassment of Australia rural women.

Skye spoke of her experience of growing up in a country town, and how her strong connection to the bush prompted her to address the issues that rural women face in the workplace today. She touchingly remembered her late mother, whose memory she drew strength from while listening to countless rural women who were brave enough to share their story, on a subject that until now, has received little to no attention in the wider Australian community.

Skye’s book outlines how sexual harassment isn’t unique to rural environments, but how it is particularly problematic for rural women because they live in more isolated communities, where entrenched patriarchal practices, values and behaviours still exist. Skye acknowledged that while there are a number of men in rural settings who salute the contributions women make in typically ‘male oriented’ workplaces, there are a greater number of men who still use sexual harassment as a way of making women feel like they are intruders in their own workplace.

Joining Skye, were speakers Melinda Tankard-Reist; author, media commentator and women's advocate, and Belinda Barnard of the ACT Human Rights Commission. Both of these women applauded Skye for the work she had done in opening up a very difficult dialogue, and shared their own, very personal experiences with differing levels of sexual harassment in the workplace.

WLA ACT commends Skye in her efforts as an advocate for rural women. We would also like to warmly thank the women who helped Skye in her research for this much needed publication, Melinda and Belinda for taking the time to offer their own insights on a very important issue within our society, and Legal Aid for the generous use of their boardroom.

Skye’s book is available for purchase online.