The National Association of Women Solicitors (AWS) has voted to join the Law Society's new Women Lawyers Division.
The vote, which was held on Monday evening at Chancery Lane, followed two years of consultation to establish a working model that best meets the needs of women in the legal profession from law graduates to retirees.
The National AWS was established in 1923 following the admission of Carrie Morrison, the first woman solicitor to be admitted to the Roll. Since then it has grown to a membership of over 18,000.
Joy Van-Cooten, national chair of the Association of Women Solicitors said: 'With the introduction of the alternative business structures and unprecedented numbers of women entering and working in the legal profession, the fusion of the AWS and the Law Society's Women Lawyers Division is in the best interests of women solicitors. We at the AWS will embrace this development in our history and feel that working with the WLD will give women solicitors a stronger, louder and unified voice. This is an exciting prospect and we look forward to continuing our mission by providing opportunities for our members and new members to influence and shape the future.'
Law Society president Lucy Scott-Moncrieff said: 'Women represent almost half of all solicitors - and that proportion is increasing. The new women's division of the Law Society will provide a forum for all female members to champion and tackle issues of interest to them. We aim for it to provide women solicitors with a powerful voice inside and outside the Society and to draw from the experience of AWS in designing the offer to these targeted members.
She added: 'The Society's new interactive and tailored web platform will support their activities, resulting in a one-stop shop for women seeking advice and support on career development and the challenges facing women solicitors. Members of the division will benefit from a comprehensive programme of events, opinions from industry experts, news articles, interviews, tailored training and other services. The division will be consulted in the Society's policy development work and in the origination and design of products and services for members.'
The local regional AWS groups will remain independent of the National Association, however their members will become automatic members of the new division.
AWS Law Society council member Sarah Austin commented: 'The AWS's invaluable history and experience will be incorporated into the new division, as a continuation of the AWS's 90 year legacy. I also hope that our current members will continue to contribute to the vital issues affecting women solicitors, both at a national and local level.'
Further announcements will be made as the new division progresses towards the full launch in the new year.
Find out more about the Women Lawyers Division
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For enquiries about the new division contact: Judith McDermott : Judith.mcdermott@lawsociety.org.uk, Joy Van Cooten : chair@womensolicitors.org.uk, or Sarah Austin : sja@austinsandco.co.uk