Law firms' female leadership programmes need to "walk the talk" says Nicols plc CEO

Female leadership programmes within law firms need to "walk the talk" and actually increase women's representation at the top of the legal profession, according to Marnie Millard OBE, the chief executive of Vimto maker Nicols plc. Millard made her point when speaking to a group of female solicitors and barristers at an event organised by Women in the Law UK, the Manchester-based lobbying, networking and support organisation.

Responding to a question about how to set up a women's group within a top firm, Millard said, "Think really hard about the purpose of setting up your group, and define what success will look like for you in three or five years' time. And don't reinvent the wheel - it may be more powerful to find people who are already doing the same thing at other firms and collaborate with them."

Millard went on to say that, while many law firms have women's leadership programmes, most of these have yet to bear fruit in the upper echelons of the profession. "I hate to say it but all these programmes are not yet leading to significant changes at the top ," she told the audience.

She also said that businesses and law firms should not simply permit flexible working but that senior management should lead by example. "I prefer to get into the office early in the morning but, as long as the day to day business issues allow I will leave before 5pm so that everyone can see me going and feel they have permission to do the same," she said.

Millard was sharing the floor with three leading female entrepreneurs from the North West: Jennie Johnson MBE of day nursery group Kids Allowed, Rebecca McCann of haircare innovator Pro Blo Group and Emma Elston MBE of waste container refurbishment business UK Container Maintenance. Each shared stories from their entrepreneurial journeys, along with key lessons for the audience to apply to their legal careers.

Johnson said one of the most valuable lessons she was currently learning was to be more discerning about which additional commitments filled her diary and learning it's OK sometimes to say "no" and also to carve out time each week for herself and her own wellbeing. McCann, meanwhile, urged the audience to take time to "enjoy the small successes" that occur while working toward long-term goals.

Elston, like the other panellists, emphasised the importance of determination, but also of taking time out to "have a meeting with your mind", and of having fun at work. Millard told the audience, "At some point you have to be really brave, a lot of the time you have to be really determined and you need always to be learning."

Sally Penni, barrister at law and founder and chair of Women in the Law UK, said, "Ultimately the legal profession is a business so it was really useful to hear the stories of women who have overcome all kinds of hurdles to achieve massive commercial success. We had a fabulous evening with some fascinating insights.

"I am really grateful to Marnie, Jennie, Rebecca and Emma for giving up their time to come and speak to us. I am sure everyone in the audience went away with some really valuable lessons that they can apply to their own careers and firms."

The meeting was held at Cobden House Chambers on the evening of Thursday 14 June 2018. Future events in the Women in the Law UK calendar include a session on "How to be indispensable in your career" with JMW managing partner Joy Kingsley on the evening of 4 July and a summer drinks party at the Royal Exchange theatre in Manchester on 12 July.

In the autumn Women in the Law UK will officially launch in London, with an event at the offices of solicitors BLM. This will take place on 20 September.

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Notes to editors

About Women in the Law UK

Women in the Law UK was founded by the award-winning barrister Sally Penni and exists to support and encourage gender diversity in the legal profession. The not-for-profit organisation has more than 700 members and hosts regular events to promote its message and raise money for a range of charitable causes.

Based in Manchester, the home of the Pankhursts, Women in the Law UK has events planned around the country for 2018 and 2019. Members and ambassadors are drawn from a broad range of fields and, in addition to its events, it carries out research into reasons why women leave the profession and operates a mentoring programme to provide female solicitors and barristers with the support they need to remain and thrive within legal practice over the long term.