The organisation has held to its aim of providing female lawyers with a common meeting ground
The Women Lawyers Association of NSW (WLANSW) celebrates its 70th anniversary this month.
WLANSW, which is the peak professional body acting for female lawyers in the state, conducted its first meeting on 6 March 1952 as the first association of its kind in the country. Since then, the organisation shared that it has garnered over 9,000 members, including pioneers of the profession, senior legal leaders and next-generation talents.
“WLANSW continues to advocate for women lawyers and the betterment of the legal sector, particularly as it affects women and children. We remain active in making submissions, conducting research and being a voice for women in law and the community,” WLANSW President Renée Bianchi added.
The organisation added that the original aims of the WLANSW as laid out its 1952 constitution have undergone little change.
“We remain focused on providing a common meeting ground for women lawyers and to foster the growth of collegiality among women lawyers, and continue to advocate for law reform and the advancement of women in the legal profession and community, more generally,” the WLANSW said in a media release.
The association will commemorate the occasion through a gala dinner to be held on 11 March. The event will see appearances from NSW Governor Margaret Beazley AC QC and WLANSW patron Virginia Bell AC.
Over in Victoria, National Family Violence Prevention Legal Services co-chair Antoinette Braybrook picked up the VIC State Award at the Australian Awards for Excellence in Women’s Leadership held by Women & Leadership Australia (WLA).
Braybrook, who is also the CEO of Djirra, “continues to demonstrate an outstanding contribution to gender equity and paving the way for emerging women in leadership roles – particularly First Nations women and other women in intersectional groups.” WLA CEO Suzi Finkelstein said.
Braybrook was born in Wurundjeri country, and takes pride in her Indigenous heritage. Her goal is to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family violence victims voice and visibility.
She is also CEO of the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, South Australia, and is a champion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community control and self-determination.
“I feel honoured to be acknowledged within this legacy of so many incredible women. My authority to lead and advocate comes from being an Aboriginal woman with my own experiences and history, and the trust and confidence that women in our communities place in me,” Braybrook said. “For me, leadership has been a journey towards taking my place and carrying out my responsibilities as an Aboriginal woman. This award is an opportunity to elevate the voices of Aboriginal women experiencing family violence. I will keep speaking up - advocating for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women - to keep women’s voices and experiences of family violence, incarceration, racism and child removal – front and centre.”
Braybrook will receive the award at the Australian Women’s Leadership Symposium in Melbourne on 16 September.
