Angela Priestley reporting from Australia in Women’s Agenda:

Measuring productivity by time rather than work achieved can be difficult for the flexible worker, especially when such billable units are expected to be completed during traditional work hours.  According to a major report released by the Law Council of Australia on Friday, women have accounted for almost 60% of all solicitors admitted over the past decade, yet are still half as likely as men to reach partnership. The billable hour still drives them away.

Fiona McLeod SC went so far as to describe the profession as a “men’s only club” while discussing the new research, with the report also highlighting an alarming rate of bullying, discrimination and harassment.

Nimble women lawyers are forming start-ups in the legal space. Many are being formed by women who’ve rejected the big law structure to work their own way. Others by those who’ve recently had children and are looking to supplement part-time work or earn an income while managing the bulk of the child caring duties.

Lawyers Jane Wright and Lauren Barel launched Workdynamic Australia in 2013.  They jobshare in their firm specializing in workplace investigations, employment and advisory work. Laura VIckers launched an online law firm run from her kitchen table. She meets clients on Skype and drafts will and does conflict resolution.  Technology has long been evening the playing field for those looking to run businesses on their own time and in their own way.

In Australia, the legal profession is finally catching up – and women are leading the change.   Legal Profession Report