Law firm celebrates its 85% female workforce on International Women’s Day

Lancashire solicitors’ firm, Alexander Grace Law, is using International Women’s Day to celebrate its 130-strong female staff within an overall workforce of 154.

The company’s 85 per cent female workforce demonstrates an incredible example of how far the legal profession has come in recent years.

Indeed, women were not even allowed to become members of the Law Society or Inns of Court until 1919 when Parliament forced the doors open with the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act.

Operating across four offices in Hapton, Lytham and Blackpool, Alexander Grace law’s female staff includes 32 paralegals, 37 lawyers, 3 managers, 57 support staff, and 2 trainees.

Asked the secret behind attracting so many women to the business in the business’ four years, co-founder Donnamarie Sturrock, said: “I think it’s because we are such a family friendly business, who focus on looking after our staff and recognising how important the work life balance is.

“Working mums are some of the hardest working people I know and will always give way more back. They appreciate that James and I are family oriented and understand the importance of getting the balance right.”

With so many women working for the firm, Donnamarie and James are often asked why the majority is so high.

Donnamarie said: “It’s a common question. We found that a lot of men left the legal sector after the last property crash and not many re-trained.

“Of course, we’d like a more equal mix and we are starting to find more men applying for all roles within the office. We actually now have around 20 men, and this is slowly rising.”

Fellow co-founder James Young echoed Donnamarie’s words: “When Donnamarie and I started the practice we never set out to employ more women than men, it’s just how it has evolved over the four years.

“We’d like to move towards a more equal balance but in the meantime, we’re very proud to have reversed the roles a little in an industry that was, up until recently, so heavily male-dominated.”

The figure of 85 per cent represents an important success in the drive towards gender equality in the legal profession and Alexander Grace Law are proud to celebrate all the women in their team behind that number.

“We really do have an incredible team of people across our four offices, and today’s a great day to acknowledge their successes and say thank you.”