Lauren Cassimatis is an Accredited Prison Legislation specialist, practising completely in felony regulation and quasi-criminal regulation since 2004. In 2018, after progressing within the authorized occupation to senior management and administration roles, specialising in defending complicated indictable offences, she had her second youngster and took 12 months’ maternity depart.
“I had solely taken six months depart with my first youngster,” Lauren recollects. “For the primary time in my life, I felt disconnected from my occupation and from my id as a profession lady and lawyer. I battled with ‘mum guilt’ for feeling that means.
“My lawyer buddies would ring me to debate new circumstances and I couldn’t relate or contribute,” Lauren laments. “I liked being with my infants, however I simply didn’t really feel like myself. Promotional alternatives I had been promised got here to a standstill or had been ‘redesigned’ and given to others.”
This was the primary time Lauren skilled the glass ceiling, one thing she now says she “naively” thought that the regulation had overcome as a occupation.
Decided to ‘proper this fallacious,’ Lauren launched Prison Legislation Mums on Instagram that yr, capturing her day-to-day experiences as a felony lawyer and mum.
“It was designed to be reassuring and entertaining, to assist different working mums, notably felony legal professionals, in their very own careers and private lives,” Lauren explains. “I achieved an engaged following fairly rapidly, so inside a month I hosted our first networking occasion – 30 feminine felony legal professionals attended and actually loved connecting with one another.”
Because the enterprise thrived, Lauren noticed relationships being fashioned or solidified, with girls from different follow areas asking if they may be part of her group. So, in 2022, Lauren rebranded to Connecting Lawyer Mums (CLM) and expanded her companies.
“We now supply varied occasions and sources to over 9000 members together with: An annual gala dinner and awards ceremony; the Encourage Awards which recognise and reward the contributions to the occupation of lawyer mums; panel periods with professional audio system on themes aimed to spice up the wellbeing, wealth, conduct, enterprise abilities and careers of working mother and father; networking lunches and dinners which showcase members and provides them a possibility to attach and bond; and webinars and on-line academic packages and workshops.”
The ethos behind CLM is to fulfill what Lauren describes as a powerful want for group, networking, assist and sources to assist girls increase their skilled and private lives.
“We have to broaden our connections and publicity to varied alternatives and enhance our sense of confidence, worth and company to attain our objectives,” she avers. “We now have to rewrite society’s expectations and misconceptions about working mother and father’ work ethic and talents. In flip, this improves working mother and father’ probabilities of discovering the appropriate employer, or promotional alternatives or creating their very own profitable enterprise.
“My motivation and what drives Connecting Lawyer Mums at present is my unwavering sense of equity, fairness and willpower to show this round for the higher and assist break the glass ceiling. The truth that we now have over 9000 members Australia-wide is proof for me {that a} group like CLM is important.”
This progress to having over 9000 members is all of the extra notable given the preliminary doubt and uncertainty from some inside the occupation. “At occasions I let the exterior doubt change into inner doubt,” Lauren admits. “Nevertheless, I noticed the worth and pleasure CLM delivered to our members and the occupation. The way in which it was embraced general made me proud and motivated me. I requested myself, might I actually convey an finish to all of the magic CLM is creating? The reply was and is not any.
“I’m actually pushed by my sense of function, and I like seeing how a lot CLM has advanced and continues to evolve. I’ve additionally met so many unimaginable individuals due to CLM. I’m excited to see what’s subsequent.”
The CLM mission goes past simply enterprise; Lauren strives to make a significant social influence that resonates together with her group of lawyer moms and dealing mother and father, with a deal with constructing an inclusive and supportive atmosphere the place professionals can thrive each personally and professionally.
“To operationalise this, we provide tailor-made sources that handle the distinctive challenges confronted by our members, similar to negotiating versatile work preparations, psychological well being assist, and ability growth workshops,” Lauren says. “We additionally have interaction in advocacy work and group consciousness aimed toward influencing office insurance policies and attitudes inside the authorized sector. Moreover, we consider in giving again to the group; for instance, we organise occasions the place proceeds go to related charities that help girls and youngsters, highlighting our dedication to making a ripple impact of constructive change.
“In the end, we try to foster a community the place collaboration and assist are on the forefront, empowering girls to succeed whereas balancing their household tasks.”
The largest learnings Lauren has taken from her journey with CLM are the importance of resilience and the truth that collaboration is not only helpful however important. “Entrepreneurship is rife with challenges, and it’s simple to really feel overwhelmed,” she explains. “Nevertheless, specializing in the mission of empowering lawyer moms and associated professionals retains me grounded and motivated. When confronted with setbacks, I remind myself of the constructive influence we’re making and the assist we offer to our group.
“And partnering with different organisations, companies, and influential voices within the authorized and enterprise worlds has amplified our influence and broadened our attain,” Lauren concludes.
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