Women in LegalTech: LegalTech in Leeds & LBU

Through this event series, we aim to provide a platform to men and women, to discuss all issues regarding gender diversity and inclusion.

What have our previous events covered?

In the first installment of 'Women in LegalTech', we highlighted some of the key challenges that still exist around gender bias across the legal and tech sectors, including the gender pay gap, the lack of women in senior leadership roles and the difficulty in managing work-life balence and career progression in the context of starting a family.

At the second event, we focsed the discussion around the role and importance of allies, particularly male allies, in making change happen.

"Male allies for gender equality are advocates who work in partnership with women to uproot and transform harmful gender relations and stereotypes."

Although women's empowerment is a critical element of gender equality, gender equality is not a 'women's issue', nor can it be advanced solely through women's efforts. Allies play an important role in making change happen and so it is important to for everyone to share the responsibility and participate actively in this agenda.

What will we cover at the next Women in LegalTech?

The gender imbalance in the LegalTech sector is quite significant. The tech sector generally has around 25% female representation, with LegalTech showing similar patterns despite law firms having higher female representation. Leadership positions across tech and LegalTech show even greater dispariy and female founders receive significantly less venture capital funding compared to their male counterparts.

In this session, we will discuss why it is so important to encourage women into tech and LegalTech roles from a societal, economic and business performance perspective.

Agenda:

13:00 - 13:30 - Lunch & networking

13:30 - 13:40 - Welcomes from LegalTech in Leeds

13:40 - 14:30 - Panel discussion on the importance of empowering women into LegalTech and tech-related roles, featuring:

• Laura Wood, Client Adviser, Lexis Nexis
• Cassandra Macdonald, Dean - School of Technology, BPP University
• Professor Nnenna Ifeanyi-Ajufo, Law School, Leeds Beckett University

14:30 - 15:00 - Audience questions, networking & close