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‘I have a duty to give back and mentor younger women’
There is an increasing focus on the responsibility of those in positions of power to nurture the next of female lawyers. Here, one firm head reflects on how she sends the elevator back down to those coming through the ranks.
Grace Robbie
Speaking on a recent episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, Aleisha MacKenzie, the director of Crystal Ray of Construct Law Group—which won Boutique Diversity Firm of the Year at the recent Women in Law Awards— shared how it is her responsibility, as well as the responsibility of other women in leadership roles within law firms, to actively support and mentor the next generation of women in the legal profession.
In the same episode, she and Crystal Ray, a special counsel for Construct Law Group, discussed the troubling trend of more women exiting the legal profession and explored the concerning reasons behind this phenomenon.
MacKenzie articulated that the role of a leader encompasses more than merely attaining personal success; she perceives it as a duty to contribute to the development and support of younger women within the profession.
“Once you do get to a leadership position, I very much feel I have a duty to give back and to mentor younger women especially, and to ensure that they've got a safe and supportive workplace,” she said.
She expressed that her philosophy is based on the belief that when young women choose to become part of a law firm, they deserve more than just a paycheck; they need guidance and the assurance that their well-being is prioritised.
“If they're choosing your firm and they're trusting you with their career, a very large aspect of their life, especially if they're more junior, then you owe them a duty of care to ensure that they do feel safe and supported,” she explained.
MacKenzie discussed the need for a tailored approach to mentorship, emphasising the necessity of engaging in individualised conversations to recognise and address each person's unique needs and challenges.
“A lot of the time that is an individual plan … and I think it's really important that I have the conversation with each person about where they want to go and the struggles that they're having,” she shared.
She explained that her commitment to supporting other women in the profession comes from her own workplace experiences and the desire to prevent others from facing similar difficulties.
“I think I'm one of those people [that has] this deep sense [and] deep passion towards just helping other people.
“I just don't want to see them go through what I went through. You just want them to have a better start and a long future in the law,” she stated.
However, supporting women’s growth in the legal profession entails more than simply offering guidance, with MacKenzie explaining how it involves assisting them in transitioning to new opportunities, even if that means leaving their current firm.
“Sometimes, it means supporting them to move on from my firm … I've had some exceptional young women who I've mentored and had come through the firm to a certain stage.
But then I've also had them leaving and thanking me for believing in them and helping them, you know, move to the next stage in their career,” she noted.
