Europe

 View Only

Recap: Prosperoware/ILTA Connect – Women in Legal Technology Event

By Laura O'Hara posted 04-12-2022 10:00

  

On Wednesday 23rd March, in sponsorship with Prosperoware, ILTA hosted its second ‘Women in Legal Tech event’. The aim of these events is to build a community for women in Legal Technology. The first event, in November 2021, was very well received and had focused on Leadership; the topic for this event was Imposter Syndrome.

 The event was due to be hosted by Nina Gratrick (Global Services Technology Delivery Director for Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP) but unfortunately she was unable to attend due to illness. The panel was lead by Melody Easton (Marketing Director of Prosperoware) and she was joined by Annette Brown (Head of IT at Milbank) and Sam Jefferies (Global Head of New Business at Fliplet).

The evening started with a short introduction from Tony McKenna (Executive Vice President of ILTA) and a mention of ILTACON Europe, which is scheduled for November. Melody then provided some context around imposter syndrome explaining that research shows 70% of people in a room at previous events have suffered with it, having anxiety, self doubt and undervaluing their competence. Research also shows that the cure is family, friends and community (hence these events).

A Q&A session then took place with the panelists sharing their experiences of imposter syndrome and their stories of how they have worked, and continue to work, to overcome it. Each panelist then provided a “takeaway”:

  • Know your superpower – what you’re good at
  • Be confident and comfortable with who you are
  • Change the narrative, it’s not a test or competition
  • If you are your authentic self, you are not an imposter


As part of the event, Annette shared details about the work she is doing with the Positive Transformation Group (PTG). The PTG work to Connect Corporates with Communities (CCC). Annette spoke about how just under £2bn went back to the revenue unspent. Corporates can use the Levy (a tax for any employer with a wage bill over £3m, taxed at half a percent) and 25% of law firms surplus levy can be used to help charities and SMEs in their supply chains.

Annette’s role with the PTG Foundation is helping Charities in getting the best experience from levy gifting and other community projects. The Levy can be used for training existing employees, as well as recruiting apprentices. The PTG most recently worked with Osborne Clarke on gifting £70,000 of their unspent levy to help 10 of the senior management team at RSBC (Royal Society for Blind Children). The PTG give the “Added Value” to the Scheme. Annette has been working with Manley Hopkinson on the Level 5 Leadership Programme and also talking to ILTA about the Added Value to the Application Support Lead apprenticeship starting in September. This is a recently approved standard which Annette and Tony McKenna co-chaired the Trailblazer group. More details on this will be available soon. Annette also spoke about Carly Hope, who specialises in mentoring women who lead, specifically in helping women with Imposter Syndrome.

The evening concluded with prosecco, pizza and networking!


 




0 comments
10 views

Permalink