Women in Public Leadership initiative launched by female lawyers

Today, women constitute over half of all solicitors in the UK. Yet, despite this progress, women remain heavily underrepresented at senior leadership levels. Addressing this critical gap, two distinguished lawyers. Pavani Reddy, Managing Partner of Zaiwalla & Co, and Zoya Burbeza, Head of the firm's Russia and CIS Desk were among the prominent guests supporting the launch of the Women in Public Leadership (WIPL) initiative at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy.

The Women in Public Leadership initiative (WIPL) is an international program aimed at empowering executive women to pursue leadership roles across government, law, advocacy, and philanthropy. Hosted by a leading global policy centre, WIPL brought together accomplished female leaders to deliver training, mentorship, and inspiration to a cohort of aspiring executives.

This launch event was not only significant in the American context but also resonated deeply with the ongoing gender challenges facing the UK legal profession.

A Persistent Leadership Gap in the UK Legal Profession

In the United Kingdom, women now represent around 62% of all solicitors holding practising certificates (Solicitors Regulation Authority, 2023). However, when it comes to the highest echelons of leadership, their representation drops dramatically. Less than 32% of equity partners in law firms are women. At the Bar, women account for just 20.3% of King’s Counsel (senior barristers) according to the Bar Standards Board.

This phenomenon, often referred to as the "leaky pipeline," illustrates that while women are entering the profession in greater numbers, systemic barriers still prevent them from progressing to the very top. Gender bias, unequal work allocation, the motherhood penalty, lack of sponsorship, and persistent gender pay gaps contribute to this imbalance.

The legal sector’s gender pay gap stands at 17.6%, notably higher than the UK’s national average. In practical terms, this means that female legal professionals earn significantly less than their male counterparts, with disparities widening at senior levels.

The Women in Public Leadership initiative directly addresses these challenges by equipping women with practical leadership skills and strategies to ascend into these underrepresented roles.

Leadership and Inspiration at WIPL

At the University of Chicago, the WIPL program featured a powerhouse lineup of keynote speakers:

• Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama and Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls.

• Ertharin Cousin, former Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme.

• Susan Sher, former Chief of Staff to Michelle Obama and current leader of the Barack Obama Presidential Library project.

• Jessica Yellin, award-winning political journalist and former CNN Chief White House Correspondent.

Through panels, workshops, and one-on-one mentorship, participants explored critical topics such as building influence, navigating political landscapes, strategic communication, and leading with authenticity.

The presence of Pavani Reddy and Zoya Burbeza, both recognised for their leadership in international law, signalled the program’s strong emphasis on legal leadership. Their careers reflect what is possible when barriers are challenged head-on.

Major Initiatives Complementing WIPL

WIPL fits into a broader movement within the UK legal industry to address the leadership gap. Other key initiatives include:

• Women in Law Pledge: Launched by the Law Society, Bar Council, and CILEx, this pledge asks organisations to commit to gender equality and set tangible targets for female leadership representation.

• Law Society’s Women Solicitors Network: A network offering mentoring, leadership programs, and advocacy for female solicitors.

• Bar Council Leadership Programme: A program launched in 2023 to build a new cohort of diverse leaders within the Bar.

• Private firm initiatives: Magic Circle and other top firms have set internal targets to achieve at least 30–40% women partners by 2025–2030.

While these initiatives have made inroads, the pace of change remains slow. Cultural barriers, outdated working models, and structural inequalities must still be dismantled to truly unlock women's leadership potential.

The Challenges Still Holding Women Back

Despite concerted efforts, women in law continue to face distinct and persistent challenges:

• Gender Bias: Unconscious bias in promotions, client allocation, and performance reviews.

• Unequal Work Allocation: Women often miss out on high-profile cases or clients, impacting their path to partnership.

• The Motherhood Penalty: Taking maternity leave or seeking flexible work arrangements can slow career progression.

• Networking Barriers: Women are often excluded from informal networking that is critical for business development.

• Lack of Mentorship and Sponsorship: A shortage of senior female mentors and advocates impedes career growth.

• Cultural Resistance: Some firms are slow to adapt to flexible work models that support diversity.

These challenges mean that, even today, women must often work harder to reach the same leadership positions as men.

Bridging the Gap: The Role of Practical Leadership Tools

Beyond inspirational speeches and networking events, what women in law need are practical leadership tools that can support their career advancement every step of the way.

That’s where platforms like LeaderTools.co come in.

LeaderTools.co offers a range of actionable resources specifically designed for aspiring leaders, including:

• Performance Management Templates: Helping women effectively manage teams and projects.

• Trust-Building Frameworks: Equipping leaders to create high-performance, trust-based environments.

• Communication Playbooks: Sharpening skills needed for clear, persuasive, and strategic communication.

• Career Development Resources: Offering systems to set measurable goals, track progress, and advocate for promotion.

• Time-Saving Notion Templates: Designed for busy professionals managing complex leadership responsibilities.

By using leadership-focused tools like those from LeaderTools.co, women can bridge the gap between potential and opportunity, overcoming structural challenges with strategic career management.

Leader Tools empowers women not just to survive in leadership roles but to thrive, transforming themselves into the kind of leaders who reshape workplaces for the better.

The Future: Turning Promise into Reality

The launch of the Women in Public Leadership initiative marks an important step toward greater gender equity in law and beyond. But to translate inspiration into long-term impact, several key actions are necessary:

1. Commitment from Firms: Law firms must not just pledge, but actively implement fair promotion pathways, audit work allocation, and close the pay gap.

2. Leadership Development Investment: Women must be given access to sponsorship, business development training, and leadership coaching early in their careers.

3. Supportive Culture: Workplace cultures must normalise flexible work without penalising those who take it, and genuinely include women in informal networks and decision-making.

4. Leveraging Leadership Tools: Resources like LeaderTools.co must be integrated into professional development programs to ensure women have the practical support they need.

5. Visible Role Models: Senior women leaders must continue to mentor, sponsor, and advocate for the next generation.

If these strategies are adopted widely, the vision set out by WIPL, of a diverse, inclusive leadership landscape, can be realised.

Conclusion

The Women in Public Leadership initiative, supported by inspiring leaders like Pavani Reddy and Zoya Burbeza, represents a vital movement toward closing the leadership gap in law and public life. But real change demands action beyond a single event.