As the country continues to acknowledge Women’s Month, the legal fraternity is celebrating a milestone for gender equality with the centennial anniversary of women being permitted to practise law.
On April 10 1923, the Women Legal Practitioners Act was promulgated and opened the doors for women to enter the legal profession in SA.
It was the same year the first woman, Irene Geffin, was admitted as an advocate in SA followed by the first female attorney, Constance Mary Hall in 1926.
According to the annual judicial report issued by the SA Judiciary and covering the 2021/2022 financial year, there were more than 1,000 female magistrates, three female Constitutional Court justices, 11 female judges in the Supreme Court of Appeal and just fewer than 100 judges appointed at various other courts.
With great strides being accomplished in the move to have equal representation within the legal fraternity head of the Legal Aid SA Gqeberha and the longest-serving legal practitioner at Legal Aid SA Eastern Cape, Lynette Franklin, said she believed the increased female presence in the fraternity and on the bench had had a positive influence on the judicial system, gender equality and policies.
“Issues affecting women’s rights and gender equality are more easily brought to the fore and receive the attention they deserve,” Franklin said.
Deputy director of public prosecutions in Gqeberha, advocate Indra Goberdan, said the role of women in the legal fraternity could not be over emphasised.
“It is of paramount importance that women are seen to be actively involved in our criminal justice system.
“The indelible mark that they leave in their interactions with victims of crime, is what matters most,” Goberdan said.
Managing a group of dynamic, strong and formidable female advocates, Goberdan, who has been in her position for eight years, said even though women had made great strides in SA, there were still few women in senior positions in law firms or senior management positions.
“In the government sector there certainly is an effort made to increase the appointments of women senior managers, but we still have a long way to go towards achieving the balance.
“I’ve been in prosecution for all my professional life and cannot think of any other job that I would want to be in.
“Every day I get the opportunity to impact on a victim in a positive way, every day I get the opportunity to assist in bringing justice to those who have been most aggrieved.
“I know no greater reward than this,” she said.
Former prosecutor and respected advocate Hannelie Bakker said women played an important role in society and wore many different hats at different stages.
“Practising law is demanding and young lawyers must from the start maintain a proper balance between mind, body and soul to meet the demands and related stress of our profession.
“More senior members must mentor less experienced lawyers and most important of all, we must support each other as women as we endeavour to ensure that justice is seen to be done in whatever aspect of the law we involved.
“I am blessed with and encouraged through my beautiful relationships with other female lawyers,” Bakker said.
Well-known local attorney and women’s rights activist Tania Koen said visibility of women in law was important as it showed that the traditional role of women was not only to be a home maker and raise children.
“We are just as capable to be professionals in a predominantly male-dominated world, and just as capable of not only taking on leadership positions, but excelling in those positions.
“Visibility is further important as it serves as motivation, and perhaps inspiration for other girls to study law.
“It is important to have women role models.
“The amazing thing about being a lawyer is that it gives so many opportunities to make a difference and to make a positive contribution to society.
“Even if it is just that one client whose life you can help change,” Koen said.
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