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‘The way we used to practise is not going to work anymore’
Intersectionality will be of the utmost importance post-pandemic, according to Manmeet Kaur Verma, principal solicitor of Melbourne-based firm Regal Lawyers.
Lauren Croft
Speaking recently on the Boutique Lawyers Show, Ms Kaur Verma spoke about why intersectionality is an important phrase to know within the legal industry, particularly post-pandemic.
Intersectionality is going to become crucial in a post-pandemic market, particularly as lawyers practice in a more virtual space, said Ms Kaur Verma.
“If we look at some of the early research that’s been done, it’s really the people that were most vulnerable that have fallen even further behind because of the COVID pandemic, and as a result of losing employment, and as a consequence of COVID. So, I think it’s more important now than it has ever been before. It’s also a great time now because we’re already talking about innovation, about how to change the way we used to practise law, so I think it’s a great catalyst to bring about that change,” she said.
“I’m really cautious that we don’t want to see the legal industry having adapted to this new way of working from home, and then post-COVID, we’ve forgotten all about it, and we’re back to the same agendas and the same attitudes and cultures pre-COVID. So, I think it’s a great time to really make that change and make that move now.”
Intersectionality becomes critically important when dealing with clients who have been impacted heavily by the pandemic – and it has become more important than ever to reach out to those in need, added Ms Kaur Verma.
“People that have suffered as a result of COVID, they’re not people that are going to rock up to your 40th-floor office in suits and demand an appointment. They’re people that are suffering but are afraid to reach out. They don’t know how to. They’re already exhausted. They’re drained. They’ve been dealing with this crisis for quite a while now, and they’re suffering, their businesses are suffering, and they don’t want to spend more money on legal services. So, they need someone to reach out to them,” she explained.
“The traditional ways, the way we used to practise, is not going to work anymore. We need to reach out to these people and then also believe in them, understand them, where they come from. I think now is really a time post-pandemic to connect with people to get an in-depth understanding of how things work and how we can deliver for them.”
Lawyers can adopt a more intersectional approach post-pandemic by understanding where their clients come from, as well as educating all members of their law firm.
“Some of the practical things we’ve been thinking about is, one, is to have a diversity matrix. We collect a lot of data anyway, generally, in law firms, but the things that we don’t collect are things that relate to identities. So, collecting the postcode where they belong, what’s their occupation and what’s their cultural background? What languages do they speak?” Ms Kaur Verma said.
“It’s also not just the lawyers that should know about intersectionality. Every person in the firm should know about it. Your receptionist should collect that data, understand who the client is before the lawyer has their first meeting. Because then, that way, what you’re dealing with. That way, you’re able to provide advice that the client’s going to understand.”
Moving forward, Ms Kaur Verma is also re-evaluating some of the steps she’s been taking to make sure intersectionality becomes a more common phrase within the industry.
“The way we want to get to and the people that we want to serve, I don’t think we can really do it over Zoom or at a distance. I think we really need to connect, and I think we need that face-to-face connection, and so that’s definitely something we’re thinking,” she said.
“Other things like with the diversity matrix that I want to really build upon, there are times people are really reluctant to tell you about them. You put up these walls, and it’s really difficult to break those walls and get someone to understand you and trust you. So, I think we’ve got to really work on that trust-building.
“It’s like a doctor-patient relationship: until there’s trust and confidence in one another, it’s really difficult for us to help them. I think that’s a mentality we need to adopt. It’s no longer ‘you pay my hourly rate, and I give you what I think you should have’. It’s not that anymore, and I think that’s where we need to start changing our mindset.”
Lauren Croft
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.
