Three years ago, I started a community on WhatsApp in the UAE for women in the legal profession, and today, we’ve grown to 450 members.
We all know how important it is to have a supportive community around us, especially when life gets tough, and we stop investing in genuine emotional and professional connections. In this age of AI and social media, we’re craving a community and deeper connections. Sadly, there are many people who think meaningful relationships aren’t possible anymore.
That’s why I started this community—to give women a place to build real, meaningful relationships. I call it “My Village.” It’s a space where women can connect on a deeper level, beyond the usual online interactions. Our members are free to share their experiences, challenges, and successes; creating genuine connections that go way beyond just networking. With regular meetups, discussions, and support sessions, we’ve built a strong, supportive network where women can feel seen, understood, and valued. Many members have found mentors, collaborators, and friends who support them throughout their career journeys and personal lives.
These last three years have been incredibly rewarding for me. However, I sometimes face criticism for creating a women-only space. I believe women in law encounter unique challenges that our male colleagues don’t. That’s why I think a supportive community is more essential than ever for women in the legal profession. Let me share a bit about these challenges.
Did you know that women in the Middle East face significant underrepresentation in the legal profession? Despite progress in recent years, achieving gender parity remains a challenge, especially in executive positions. For instance, women make up only 16.7% of the lawyers ranked in the Chambers Global guide for the Middle East in 2023, increased to 18.8% in 2024. In the UAE, the percentage of female lawyers in the rankings rose from 13% in 2021 to 19% in 2022[1]. However, these numbers are still far from achieving gender parity.
Women in senior positions within law firms are also limited. In Bahrain, women represent 35% of ranked lawyers, while in Lebanon, they account for 24.5%[1]. In Egypt, the proportion of female lawyers increased from 18.5% to 19.2%. Despite these improvements, women still face barriers to reaching leadership roles and partnership positions in law firms across the region.
Our male colleagues aren’t trying to undermine us, intentionally, but implicit biases can still affect career progression, promotions, and salary increases. Women lawyers often complain that they receive lower performance ratings compared to their male counterparts, despite similar or better performance. They tend to get assigned less challenging cases, and therefore, limiting opportunities for career advancement and skill development. [7] Work-life balance is another challenge, with women being penalized for taking maternity leave or requesting flexible working arrangements.
Leadership Potential
Women are often overlooked for leadership roles due to stereotypes that men are more natural leaders. This results in reduced representation in senior positions and decision-making roles.
Hiring Practices
Women face stricter hiring criteria or being questioned about their family plans during interviews, whereas, men are not subjected to the same scrutiny. This creates barriers to entry and perpetuates gender inequality in the workplace.
Joining a women-only network offers numerous benefits.
We Get You!
Networking with other women feels warm and safe, allowing members to openly share their struggles and challenges.
Mentorship
Mentorship is crucial, and women-only events provide opportunities to meet experienced and successful women eager to offer support and guidance. These events create a space for authenticity and inspiration, boosting confidence and motivation.
A LinkedIn study found that 82% of women think having a mentor is essential, but one in five still hasn’t had that experience. The good news is that younger women are more likely to have had a mentor. Only 34% of women aged 45-66 have had a female mentor, compared to 51% of women aged 18-29. At women-only networking events, you’ll meet many experienced and successful women who are eager to offer their support and guidance. [8]
Authenticity
Women-only events create a space where you can truly be yourself, with genuine support from others boosting your confidence.
Inspiration
Hearing the incredible stories of challenges overcome and lessons learned from other successful women in law is super motivating.
In the UAE, remarkable legislative efforts have been made to address gender inequality. The UAE Gender Balance Council was established to ensure Emirati women continue to play a leading role in the country’s development. The Council reviews legislation, policies, and programs to achieve gender balance in the workplace. Mandatory female representation on corporate boards has been introduced, requiring at least one female board member for UAE Public Joint Stock Companies listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange or the Dubai Financial Market. [2]. As an example: Private joint-stock companies must appoint at least one woman to their board of directors starting January 2025 [3].
I believe Women in Law network will continue to flourish and provide a safe space for its members. Any influence I can have on the well-being of our community is a source of energy and reward for me. I’ll keep this journey going so we can support each other and build a thriving community for women in law.
I deeply appreciate all the help and support from the incredible women in this group. A special shoutout to the wonderful, strong, and successful women on our advisory board who guide the trajectory of this network. Your wisdom and leadership are invaluable.
Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments, and join our network or similar networks to take advantage of available resources. Together, we can achieve gender equality in the legal profession. If you’re a woman in law in the UAE and haven’t joined our network yet, I invite you to reach out to me directly on LinkedIn.
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