12-03-2025
Growing role of women in legal field
Muscat, March 12
The role of women in the legal field is growing and breaking the glass ceiling, as they make meaningful impact in the society with more areas for them to explore, according to Gorvinder Pannu, employment expert at Addleshaw Goddard Oman.
'Emerging fields such as technology law (including AI), environmental law, renewable energy and even space law offer great opportunities for women. Given that these are just developing and there are few specialists, women have a great opportunity to lead in these areas,' Pannu said.
As more women enter the legal market and move up through the ranks, they are increasingly breaking through traditional barriers, bringing diverse perspectives that enrich the legal profession as well as the sectors that they serve says Gorvinder Pannu.
'The appointment of women into senior and leadership roles while fostering a more inclusive environment, can also drive innovation and progress. We have to remember that female lawyers tend to juggle many more commitments than men, particularly in relation to family life. Their resilience to power and navigating these challenges should be recognised and embraced as these are valuable contributions that women bring to the legal market,' Pannu noted.
There have been numerous challenges women in law have been facing such as outdated stereotyping, gender bias (whether this is conscious or unconscious), unequal pay, underrepresentation in senior roles and a lack of work-life balance.
'Despite their qualifications and capabilities, women often encounter systemic obstacles (otherwise known as the "glass ceiling") that hinder their career advancement and professional development,' she pointed out.
So what is the difference women have made in the field of law? Pannu replied that women bring diverse perspectives and innovative approaches to problem-solving, advocacy and decision-making.
'They have contributed to a more holistic understanding of justice and equity and can be quite strategic, often driven by their ability to think outside the box in both their personal and work lives. Women in leadership positions have also generally been instrumental in mentoring the next generation of lawyers (whether female or male), as they tend to have excellent nurturing skills to guide and inspire future talent,' she said.
When asked what else is needed to break the glass ceiling, she said, 'This is a very interesting question and one that I explored very recently with a panel of very senior female leaders at our Breaking the Glass Ceiling event held a few days ago. It goes without saying that fostering a corporate culture that values diversity and inclusion, alongside active mentorship for women, is crucial for dismantling systemic barriers.' She added that women also need allies and champions, whether they are men or women who can support them along their journey.
'Building a strong support system is so important, as is the importance of networking and shouting out about their successes, something that men seem to do quite well,' she pointed out.
