COVID-19: Pressures faced by women in law under lockdown

More than a third have experienced a drop in income. However, the reduction in income has not been accompanied by a corresponding drop in working hours―only 6% of employers had reduced respondents’ formal working hours with just 3% requesting reduced hours themselves.

One solicitor said: ‘Our firm has seen 80% of the staff furloughed.

‘The only two kept at my office were the mother of a five-year-old trying to home school and myself, currently pregnant. The strain on both our mental health has been outrageous.’

One barrister said: ‘As a young, healthy woman with no children I am one of the few people in chambers able to continue going to court throughout this time.

‘The pressure is immense. It felt like I became responsible for bringing new work into chambers overnight, and that I didn't have a good reason for not accepting work. I'm exhausted.’

Nearly 900 women responded to the survey. 91% of the respondents are working from home, 11% have had confirmed or suspected COVID-19 and 17% have had a family member with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. One in five has volunteered or acted pro bono during the crisis.

Two-thirds reported that the organisation they work for has furloughed staff. Three-quarters of the women said their firm or chambers was handling the crisis well and the majority were optimistic their businesses would bounce back once the crisis was over.

Half of those with young children reported they were taking on more childcare responsibilities than their partner. Nearly one third had to reduce their working hours in order to do so. 73% were finding the situation hard to juggle.

One law firm partner said: ‘All staff apart from partners have been furloughed, so I am working at home around the clock whilst having to juggle a four-year-old and an ill husband.

‘It is exhausting and at the same time I am dealing with the reality that the firm just may not survive this.’

Some 65% were concerned that the lockdown was ‘exaggerating’ existing inequalities between men and women with more than half voicing concerns that diversity initiatives will fall by the wayside as financial pressures grow post-crisis.

However, there was also a widespread expectation of increased acceptance of requests for home working or flexible working after the crisis is over, with 83% anticipating a change in the profession.

Dana Denis-Smith, founder of The Next 100 Years and CEO of Obelisk Support, said: ‘The survey shows that women in the legal profession are being hit hard by this crisis.

‘Many are attempting to do the impossible and there is a reluctance to admit they are not super women. These life changing events will affect the legal profession for years to come and I hope that we learn the right lessons.’