Talks and events
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The Edinburgh Foundation for Women in Law aims to facilitate a range of conversations that will help drive a change in the legal profession in Scotland to ensure a more equal and diverse landscape.
EFWiL hosts a number of talks and events throughout the year, which we encourage anyone with an interest in promoting women in the law to attend.
EFWiL Reflections Lecture 2024/2025
To mark EFWiL’s 10th anniversary, co-founders Professor Lesley McAra and Karina McTeague for the EFWiL Reflections Lecture 2024 gave an in-conversation style talk to discuss the past, present and future of EFWiL’s work to break down barriers, promote equal opportunities, and inspire a new generation of legal professionals who will shape a more equitable and just society.
Read about the Reflections Lecture 2024/45.
EFWiL Reflections Lecture 2022/2023
The Edinburgh Foundation for Women in Law was delighted to welcome the Solicitor General, Ruth Chartertis KC, for the EFWiL Reflections Lecture 2023/24. During the lecture, Ms Charteris reflected on her career and explored some of the obstacles, barriers and challenges that she has faced. She also provided advice to those looking to enter and progress in the legal profession.
About the speaker
Ruth Charteris KC was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland in June 2021. The Solicitor General has extensive experience in civil and criminal law.
EFWiL Reflections Lecture 2021/2022
The Edinburgh Foundation for Women in Law was delighted to welcome Debora Kayembe, Rector of the University of Edinburgh, for the EFWiL Reflections Lecture 2021/22. During the lecture, Ms Kayembe reflected on her career and work in human rights law and provided advice for both students who are aspiring lawyers, and for those in practice. She also reflected on challenges that might be put to the legal profession to combat racism and inequality and promote diversity.
About the speaker
Debora Kayembe was called to the Congolese Bar Association in 2000, and has been a member of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting from 2010-2020. In 2016 she joined the language services of the office of the prosecutor at the International Criminal Court and the International Criminal Court Bar Association (ICCBA).
Debora served as Scottish Refugee Council board member from 2013 – 2016. She also joined the Royal Society of Edinburgh/Young Academy of Scotland representing refugee minorities, and has a seat as an expert lawyer to the RSE Working Group for Africa. In 2017 Debora founded the charity Full Options.
In August 2019, history was made at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, when Debora became the first African to have her portrait erected at the wall of the society honouring her achievements and contributions to the Scottish Society.
In July 2020, Debora launched the Freedom Walk campaign – a civil rights movement which aims to lobby and campaign on behalf of citizens by promoting social reforms, racial justice and community harmony. Debora is also petitioning to the Scottish Parliament in favour of anti-racist education in Scotland.
Shelf Indulgence 2025/26
This year, the EFWiL Shelf Indulgence Book Club will explore the overarching theme of ‘female friendship’. This builds on account and experience such as described by EFWiL co-founder Prof. Lesley McAra where women have ‘mobilized as a group, supported each other, and witnessed dramatic changes over the last 30 years’ as well as both Prof. McAra and co-founder Karina McTeague emphasis on the importance of ‘inclusion’ for leadership and how the development of ‘collaborative leaderships skills’ – a trait commonly associated with women – are key in the legal profession.
The four books selected for this year are:
- The things we do to our friends by Heather Darwent
- My name is Maame by Jessica George
- Lady tan’s circle of woman by Lisa See
- Bad Friend: How women revolutionized modern friendship by Tiffany Watt Smith
Policy Roundtable: Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill
On 26 October 2023, the Edinburgh Foundation for Women in Law’s held a lunchtime policy roundtable to discuss the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill and the piloting of juryless rape trials. The event consisted of a short discussion with a panel of experts, including: Professor Sharon Cowan, Sandy Brindley, Frances McMenamin KC, Lord Scott and Lord Beckett. It was chaired by Naeema Sajid of Diversity+.
Insights - Living and working in the time of COVID-19
On the 22 April 2021, the Edinburgh Foundation for Women in Law held a virtual listening event where 29 women from across the legal profession shared their experiences of working and living during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following introductory remarks by Annie Sorbie (Director of the Edinburgh Foundation for Women in Law), Kirsty Nicholson (Partner, Addleshaw Goddard LLP) and Jamila Archibald (Dispute Resolution Solicitor, SSE plc), participants were asked to reflect on:
- What have been the challenges of working and living through the COVID-19 pandemic?
- Have there been any positives?
- What are the challenges and opportunities going forward?
About EFWiL
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Founded with a vision to empower, inspire and advance women in law, the Edinburgh Foundation for Women in Law (EFWiL) is a vibrant and inclusive community that fosters gender equality, professional growth and meaningful connections.
Who we are
The Edinburgh Foundation for Women in Law seeks to help anyone who identifies as a women working in law reach their full potential. Through advocacy, mentorship, education and community engagement, EFWiL strives to break down barriers, promote equal opportunities and inspire a new generation of legal professionals who will shape a more equitable and just society. Our mission is driven by the belief that a diverse and inclusive legal profession benefits individuals, organisations and society as a whole.
EFWiL is based in Edinburgh Law School at the University of Edinburgh and capitalises on its extensive alumni network and its strong links to the legal profession and our students.
EFWiL is currently led by Dr Amandine Léonard, Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law.
How we started
The Edinburgh Foundation for Women in Law was founded in 2014 as the Leadership Foundation for Women Lawyers, which was developed out of a conversation between Professor Lesley McAra CBE and Karina McTeague FRSE. The impetus for the Foundation was the difficulty faced by women in reaching the top of the legal profession, despite the fact that there has been gender parity in terms of graduating law students for over thirty years. The Leadership Foundation brought together senior female alumni from Edinburgh Law School to share experience of and best practice for creating the conditions for women to succeed within this field.
Join us
We would love for you to join us and become a member of the Edinburgh Foundation for Women in Law.
Get in touch
We would love to hear from you. If you have any questions about the Edinburgh Foundation for Women in Law or would like to discuss any of our opportunities, please contact us at leadershipfoundation.law@ed.ac.uk.
