The Women in Law club, which officially launched in February, meets at lunch in room 8203 every Thursday. Founded by president junior Evalyn Li, co-president junior Mackenzie Nere, treasurer junior Katie Shepard and social media manager junior Lilah Gee, the club helps to educate female students about the legal system and create a community of like-minded individuals with career aspirations in law.
Every club meeting starts with a discussion about the last meeting, a new topic presented through a slideshow presentation and a conversation about the new subject to be taught that day. They also provide information about future career opportunities.
“The women in law club is primarily for women, but all are welcome,” Li said. “In this club, we discuss the pathways to making your way into the legal profession, challenges women may face and [the] different types of law in their respective fields.”
Every week, they discuss a new type of legal profession, teaching members about a variety of jobs in law. The founders also make sure to educate themselves by researching and gathering primary sources to teach the members.
“We gather data from professionals and online to create the information on the slideshows,” Shepard said. “Evalyn reached out to different law firms and asked questions regarding criminal law to learn more information.”
In every presentation, the club also highlights important women in law, providing information about how she built her career and her contributions to the legal system. This helps inspire the members and show them their capabilities.
“We do women in law spotlights where we talk about one successful woman in law, specialized to the type of law that we’re talking about on a certain day,” Nere said.
This club especially addresses gender barriers that women may face in law careers, and how to gain the confidence to feel belonging in court. This skill is key to building a platform in law and working within the courtroom.
“I think when you become more educated on something, you feel more confident going into it,” Gee said. “I think it can help people feel more confident when they go into school to learn about law.”
Historically, women have always been challenged in the legal field, often not being awarded the same opportunities as men. Currently, the ratio of men to women in the legal field is 41% to 59%.
“It’s really important that women find a voice within themselves to still enter this field and not feel inferior to those of men if they want to pursue a legal career,” Li said.
One of the most pinnacle features of the club is their career chats, where they bring in professionals to have conversations with. The founders believe that having female lawyers and attorneys come in and discuss their hardships and knowledge could especially inspire more women to pursue a career in law.
“I think these people will help offer internships, guide our people in the club and give opportunities to people who are interested,” Nere said.
Not only does the club aim to educate female students about careers in law, but build a strong community of girls who become inspired together. Being able to discuss the intricacies of law with peers and professionals creates strong bonds between them.
“I think it is really important to uplift young people who want to get into the field, especially young women,” Gee said. “I think when you don’t have as much representation, it’s important to make sure that you are encouraged and supported and you have a strong sense of community that wants to see you succeed.”
