Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: There is a “huge disparity” in the legal profession as there are only 15 per cent practicing women lawyers in the country, said Delhi High Court judge Justice Pratibha M Singh.
Speaking at an event to celebrate ‘Lady Lawyer Day’, she said while more than half of the students in law schools are women, their representation among practising lawyers was very low.
“There is a huge disparity there. Though our law colleges have more than 50 % women and most toppers are girls, why is that enrolments (as advocates) are so low?” she asked.
Struggle in courts
Some of our most competent litigating girls find it difficult to get acceptance in matrimony and some give it up for corporate practices post-marriage, Justice Singh said. She, however, said that women lawyers preferred law firms.
She said women lawyers struggle to practice in courts except for major metros, noting there are “insufficient facilities” for them in courts and women in litigation are “still viewed with negativity”.
“The environment in the legal profession is such that women have to give 120 per cent to prove themselves. It is not enough to do 100 per cent… It is so true that women have to be more and more competent to be in higher positions,” Justice Singh said.
Competence, integrity
“I believe for a woman to have a successful career as a legal professional, competence beats everything. If you are competent and you show integrity, there is nothing that can stop you,” she said in her address.
The judge also spoke on the issue of gender disparity in developing as well as developed nations, especially in relation to abortion rights. She said women lawyers should embrace skills like time management, patience and perseverance.
The event was organised by the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) and SILF Ladies Group.
