Happy International Women's Day!

Saturday 8^th March 2025 marks a special occasion: International Women's Day 2025! 

We like to take the time to honour the achievements and contributions of women worldwide while recognising the work still left to do for gender equality. This year’s theme, "Accelerate Action for Gender Equality," calls on all sectors, including legal services, to commit to driving faster, more impactful change to address gender disparities.

At Biscoes, we understand the crucial role that diversity and inclusion play in creating a fair and just society. The legal industry, traditionally dominated by men, has seen positive changes, but there is still work to be done. As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, we want to reflect on our efforts, outline our commitments, and highlight the importance of accelerating action for women in the legal profession.

1. The State of Gender Equality in Law

The legal profession has made significant strides over the past few decades toward gender equality. More women are entering law schools, becoming solicitors, legal executives and paralegals, and becoming partners in law firms. However, challenges remain. According to recent reports, while women make up nearly half of law school graduates, they continue to face barriers to advancement, often encountering the "glass ceiling" when it comes to leadership roles in firms or judicial appointments. Furthermore, women are more likely to experience gender bias, pay disparities, and career interruptions due to caregiving responsibilities.

At Biscoes, we acknowledge these challenges. However, we also recognise that it is our responsibility to break down these barriers, not just for our colleagues, but for the clients and communities we serve.

Our leadership and staff are majority female and we ensure we recognise the needs of individuals based on their circumstances and not their gender.  We are working hard to address all issues relating to diversity and inclusion through the lens of intersectionality – gender is one of a number of reasons a person could face bias in the workplace and we are actively conscious of that.

2. Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Biscoes’ commitment to gender equality goes beyond words; it’s deeply embedded in our core values. We know that to truly accelerate action for gender equality, we must ensure that women, particularly women from marginalised communities, are not only represented but empowered at all levels of our firm.

In 2025, we are focused on taking concrete actions to accelerate the progress we have already made. Our commitment includes:

• Creating Leadership Opportunities: We will continue to focus on promoting women into leadership positions, ensuring that women at every level of our firm have the resources, mentorship, and opportunities needed to thrive. From junior staff to associates to directors, we will ensure that every woman’s career path is supported and celebrated.
• Fostering an Inclusive Work Environment: We will actively work to ensure that women can balance their professional and personal lives. By offering flexible working arrangements, leadership development programs, and support for women in caregiving roles, we create an environment where every woman can reach her full potential.
• Gender Pay Equity: Achieving gender pay equity is not just a goal—it’s a priority. We will continue to evaluate and adjust our compensation policies to ensure that women are compensated fairly and equitably for their work, regardless of gender.
• Ongoing Education and Advocacy: We will provide training on unconscious bias, harassment prevention, and the importance of diversity in the workplace.
• Mentorship Programs: We offer mentorship programs to support the career development of women at all levels of our firm. These programs provide guidance, support, and opportunities for professional growth.

3. Accelerating Action for Change

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to reflect, but it is also a call to action. The theme for 2025 “Accelerate Action for Gender Equality” challenges all of us to work harder, faster, and with greater intention to close the gender gap in our professional and personal lives. We believe that we are playing an active role in working towards achieving this.

4. Celebrating Women’s Achievements

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the extraordinary achievements of women in our firm and across the globe. We recognise women within our firm, who continue to inspire us with their passion, perseverance, and expertise. We also honour those who came before us, paving the way for future generations of female lawyers to succeed.

5. Looking to the Future

As we move forward into 2025 and beyond, the need for action remains clear. At Biscoes, we recognise that we are part of a global movement for change. To accelerate the fight for gender equality, we must continue to push boundaries, confront biases, and champion women in all areas of life.

On this International Women’s Day, we stand united with our colleagues, clients, and partners, committed to accelerating action and creating a world where women can thrive in every space. We are proud to contribute to this ongoing work and look forward to celebrating not just the progress made, but the even greater progress still to come.

Accelerating action for gender equality is not a one-day event—it's an ongoing commitment. Together, let’s continue to drive change for a more equitable, inclusive, and just world for women everywhere.