ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN SOLICITORS ANNOUNCE AWARD WINNERS
Celebrating women solicitors in business

The Association of Women Solicitors (AWS) announced the winners of its inaugural awards to celebrate women solicitors in business. The awards are one of many initiatives by Dr Clare McConnell, Chairwoman of the AWS, to recognise and promote business skills amongst female solicitors. The ceremony took place 10th September at the Law Society, Chancery Lane, London.

The awards recognise the industry’s role models of today and tomorrow. They reward women solicitors for best practice and good management skills of business and people.

Sarah Young, Managing Partner, Ridley and Hall Solicitors, Huddersfield won the Best Woman Solicitor Managing a Small Practice category.

Clare McConnell, Chairwoman of the AWS said, ”There has been considerable interest in the awards. This reflects the fact that there are many excellent women solicitors who are successful business women managing legal practices and retaining and developing legal talent. Judging was difficult as all the nominees were high achievers with inspiring stories to tell. I hope that all the winners will become positive role models and will encourage and motivate other women solicitors to succeed in securing positions of responsibility within the profession.”

Sarah commented: “I was delighted to win this award. The AWS has a vital role to play in supporting women solicitors at all stages of their careers. The fight for equality has not yet been won. Like it or not, it is still a very real challenge for women to have children , work flexibly if they want to and still be taken seriously in the workplace. Those of us in positions of responsibility owe it to ourselves and our younger colleagues to address these issues. It’s not just about fairness and equality; it makes good business sense to develop and retain female talent. And if that’s not reason enough, there’s also a wider issue that surely the legal profession can only uphold the rule of law if it is truly representative of the society that it serves.”

For further comment, contact Sarah Young, Managing Partner at Ridley & Hall Solicitors, Queen’s House, 35 Market Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2HL Tel: 01484 538421 E-mail: sarah.young@ridleyandhall.co.uk