Compiled by Barbara Whittle

The Law Society of South Africa’s (LSSA’s) popular Significant Leadership for Women Lawyers programme will continue developing a network of strong, leading women in the legal profession. The programme will continue in 2016, and due to demand, the LSSA is also considering expanding the programme to KwaZulu-Natal.

The Significant Leadership for Women Lawyers programme is aimed at equipping and empowering women attorneys with an understanding of key concepts in order to consider taking leadership positions in the legal profession. The LSSA’s aim is to do its part to increase the number of female attorneys in leadership and decision-making positions.

The programme has been presented in Gauteng twice. The first course ran for six full days with the first three-day session in November 2014 and the second session in February 2015. As a result of the success of the initial course, a second programme ran in August and October of 2015, with the latter course sponsored by law firms Hogan Lovells, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc and Bowman Gilfillan.

Presenters, all experts in their fields, presented the following key topics at the programme –

• understanding ‘branding’ and how to develop your own brand;
• learning about leadership styles and discovering how to apply your own style;
• the requirements of powerful writing;
• the power of organisational politics and how to manage this reality;
• thinking and acting strategically;
• understanding emotional intelligence and interacting effectively at different levels; and
• learning about the challenges/obstacles for women leaders and how to overcome these.

The feedback received from participants was positive and encouraging.

More information on the Significant Leadership for Women Lawyers programme can be obtained from Jeanne-Mari Retief at jeanne-mari@LSSA.org.za

Compiled by Barbara Whittle, communication manager, Law Society of South Africa, barbara@lssa.org.za

This article was first published in De Rebus in 2016 (Jan/Feb) DR 15.