On 13 June 2024, the Spanish Chapter of the Friends of ERA Association together with the Young Friends of ERA network organized an online panel debate “Women in the legal profession and gender equality: Their legacy from different perspectives”.
Our honored panelists
- Maria Lourdes Arastey Sahún, judge at the CJEU
- Katharina Miller, a non-Executive director of corporate boards in Germany, Spain and USA
- Stella Alessandrini, associate at Solferino Associés and winner of the Young European Lawyers Contest 2022
Each talked about their very own experience in the legal profession, yet sharing the common goal: to pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable legal field representing not only their own achievements but every female lawyer who would follow.
Historical milestones, such as article 119 of the Treaty of Rome, the 1976 ECJ ruling and the Istanbul Convention were discussed as much as challenges, such as AI biases, maternal leave and practical implementation of women´s rights were mentioned. Topics also included the importance of female representation in a predominantly male environment, the discrepancy in vocabulary for male and female lawyers and the importance of addressing micro-aggression towards one´s credibility. Over the course of the panel, the importance of allyship, the necessity of lifting as we climb and the importance of a support system where women can thrive became more than evident.
The event concluded with a sense of renewed commitment to creating a diverse field and recognizing the impact women have in shaping the future of the legal profession.
Thank you to our honored guests Maria Lourdes Arastey Sahún, Katharina Miller and Stella Alessandrini, our moderator Thaleia Antoniou and all the participants who contributed to this empowering discussion.
We wholeheartedly invite you to join the Friends of ERA and the Young Friends of ERA!
