Twenty-two per cent of the partners at business law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr are women and three out of the eight practice group heads are women lawyers with outstanding reputations in their respective disciplines. With this in mind, newly appointed director in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications Practice, Simone Gill, talks about the role of women lawyers and the particular challenges they face.

Says Simone, " In a profession where time means money, I have come to accept that, in order to achieve success and "shoot the lights out", many hours of hard work and dedication need to be invested, which includes those un-billable hours which are essential to increase and enhance my skills, particularly as an attorney in a niche practice area. That being said, I am also of the view that it is easier to achieve success once you stop taking yourself so seriously, accept and acknowledge your own strengths and weaknesses and eat a slice of humble pie once in a while.

'Hard work and commitment are par for the course for achieving success in any profession. It is however also important to remember that we are essentially all responsible for our own success and job-fulfilment and need to have the confidence to reach out for and use all opportunities which come our way, even when these opportunities force us out of our comfort zones."

Simone says that perceptions are not easily changed and in a profession which has traditionally been male dominated.” I am still conscious of the stereotyping of women in the workplace. I can honestly say that I am fortunate to be in an environment where, in my personal view, I generally feel valued and on an equal footing with my male colleagues.

"There have however been times in my career where the old stereotypes are revived. My reaction is to simply act professionally, demonstrate my capabilities and expertise and not to take it (too) personally. I am pleased to say that these experiences have been few and far between, which I hope is an indication of the legal profession's view of female attorneys being strides ahead of where it was when I first qualified as an attorney. It is important to professionally and courteously stand up to and challenge those who allow women to be negatively stereotyped in any profession.

"The legal profession is very hierarchical in nature. Whilst this is in many respects important, I do feel that we need to make efforts to bridge the gap, particularly in the dynamic world we live in today where the young attorneys coming in often seem to speak a different language and have an entirely different view on the world. That being said, I remain of the view that good manners and respect for those with more experience and seniority is an essential value, provided however that such respect is earned."

Simone says that in an age where it is easy to practice from just about anywhere, to the extent that it is practical and subject to inter-personal communications in team-driven projects and meetings, the age-old mind-set that, in order to be considered hard working, one needs to be seen in the office, needs to be revisited. This is however only possible where the individual is able to be self-disciplined and has proven him/herself accordingly.

"I would seriously advise a young woman wanting to be a corporate lawyer to get some practical experience in the field as early in her career as possible and to gain exposure to and knowledge of the extensive variety of options and opportunities available to legal practitioners in order for her to "find her fit". I think that many young attorneys, even those which may have had the benefit of being involved in a vacation programme at a law firm, are often shocked into reality when starting their articles, with no expectation of what it will actually be like in practice.

"They often also get stuck in one practice area, even if this is not their area of strength, simply because they have no idea what else is out there. This is a tough profession and in order to succeed and be happy, I would advise her that she needs to be certain of what it is that she really wants to do, which certainty can only be attained by gaining all the information at her disposal. In addition, I would advise that, in order to stand out in a very competitive market, hard work and continued commitment will not go unnoticed. A positive attitude and passion for the work she produces, whether as a student or in practice is essential. Her own confidence in her abilities is also an essential element which will assist her at every stage of her career in countering any negative stereotypes of women in the workplace".

Simone ends by saying that the failure to achieve the work life balance is often self-imposed, as we become used to a certain way of life and then struggle to get ourselves out of that mode. This is not always the case though and more often than not work volumes, budgetary expectations and client demands force us to have to abandon all hope of leaving the office before dark and once again hang up our running shoes! I do think it is important however to strive for that balance. If we prioritise those aspects (over and above our careers) the way we would a business meeting, we would probably find that this would facilitate achieving the work-life balance.