Lawyers seen to practise sex discrimination

Press, 9 March 1982, Page 12

Lawyers seen to practise sex discrimination

PA Hamilton Sex discrimination is denying many female lawyers partnerships in legal firms, a working party surveying the position of women in the legal profession has found. It says the main cause of sex discrimination in the job is the attitude of male lawyers. These; results have been printed in the Auckland district law society’s monthly bulletin, “Northern News Review.” Of the 139 women lawyers, practising in Auckland,,. 122 were interviewed, by the working party. •: Sixty one per cent of those women interviewed said there was discrimination against their being admitted to partnership. The survey, noted that “the opposition of one partner is sufficient 'to block admission to" , partnership.” Many women said that in a number of Auckland firms a woman employee had no chance of becoming a partner because one or' more of her employers “will not under any circumstances ad-

mit a woman to partnership.” The reasons for this could not be explained by age, legal experience, continuity of service, or ability. Seven of the 15 women surveyed who were in business on their own said the lack of partnership prospects had led to this move. Evidence of discrimination against women was also found in employment, salaries and areas of work. Forty per cent of women questioned said there was discrimination regarding employment.'' Some firms had said they would not employ a woman. Male lawyers were found to earn about $l3OO a year more, than their female counterparts. The working’party also found that 31 per cent of women considered they were . discriminated against in the area's of legal practice available to them. The .-.survey suggested that women were discouraged from entering some areas of legal practice, particularly commercial law, j but that , many .women were involved in matrimonial, and conveyancing work. ;-, ;.j; i-