Women barristers and doctors to examine ‘definitions of success’

The Bar of Ireland and the Irish Medical Organisation will today host a joint conference for women barristers and doctors, based around exploring the concept “Definitions of Success”.

The organisations decided to organise the “important event” after they both conducted surveys in the past year examining the challenges facing women in their respective professions.

Similar themes arising from both surveys included gender-based discrimination, ‘pigeonholing’ in terms of areas of legal practice/medical speciality, challenges of work-life balance, and the low level of advancement to positions of seniority such as ‘taking silk’ for barristers (only 16 per cent of 329 senior counsel are women) and becoming a medical consultant for a doctor (only 29 per cent of hospital consultants are female, and 15 per cent of consultant surgeons are female).

Gráinne Larkin BL, chair of The Bar of Ireland’s women’s working group, said: “Female barristers and doctors share many of the same professional challenges so we’re delighted to be teaming up with the IMO on this Conference today to explore the concept of ‘definition of success’.”

She added: “Whether it’s balancing family responsibilities or overcoming gender-based stereotypes, we can achieve more by working together and pooling our collective experiences.”

The conference will hear from keynote speaker Miriam O’Callaghan, and RTÉ legal correspondent Orla O’Donnell will chair a panel discussion with contributions from Marguerite Bolger SC, a specialist in employment law; Mary Rose Gearty SC; Oonah McCrann SC; Dr Ann Hogan and Dr Ailin Rogers.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Ms Bolger said: “Discrimination against women is recognised across many professions, not least in law and medicine.

“As barristers, we particularly struggle with the self-employed nature of our work when challenging institutionalised discrimination.

“I have found, anecdotally, that women receive significant work satisfaction from working for a worthy or notable outcome, being seen as a recognised expert and a go to person. These are stronger motivations that financial reward.

“As part of the evolution to achieving an even playing field, this conference will be a very useful exercise to help us first determine first what success looks like to female barrister and doctors.”