The legal profession has changed considerably. Women now make up the majority of practising solicitors in Ireland, client expectations and compliance demands are greater than ever. With all this change and additional pressures, the conversation around how we, as solicitors, work needs to reflect that.

For this webinar, Principal Solicitor at Susan Webster & Co, Susan Webster, joins us for a session based around juggling work and home life as a busy legal practitioner today. Susan discusses the difficulties for solicitors navigating the “sandwich generation”- squeezed between the demands of a young family, the daily reality of running a practice, societal pressures of career, etc.

While this webinar focuses on Susan’s own experience and acknowledge the additional pressures women often face (ie. mum guilt, societal expectations, being the default carer, etc), this is a conversation for the entire legal profession. The challenges may be different depending on personal circumstances, but the invisible load itself is something every solicitor, male and female, will recognise.

Some of the practical takeaways:

• A “Load Audit” prompt: Quick questions to identify what drains their energy versus what creates value.
• Three simple policies for firms to consider: Office hours boundaries, client communication expectations, and internal escalation rules.
• Permission to have the conversation: Fostering a culture of openness and safety within the firm.

During this session, Susan shares her own challenges, what strategies have helped and how colleagues can genuinely support each other without judgement. She also explains why this is not just a ‘woman’s issue’ but a leadership and culture conversation that benefits everyone in the firm.

This episode will qualify for 1 hour of Professional Development & Solicitor Wellbeing CPD by e-Learning and will be essential viewing.