The Women in Law Initiative (WiL), based in Central Europe, was founded in 2018 and is now organized through an Austrian NPO called Women in Law – Frauen im Recht (an association under Austrian law). Its president is Dr. Alix Frank-Thomasser, attorney-at-law, and its vice- president is Prof. Franz J. Heidinger, LL.M. (Virginia), attorney-at-law.

The initiative has already gained wide acceptance and is currently supported inter alia by the CCBE (Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe), the European Women Lawyers’ Association (EWLA), the Law Society of England and Wales, the Austrian Federation of Bar Associations (ÖRAK), the Austrian Lawyers’ Association (Juristenverband), the law firm Alix Frank Rechtsanwälte GmbH, the law firm DLA Piper, Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), MSI Global Alliance, publishing house Manz, Frau in der Wirtschaft (female entrepreneurs‘ network of the Economic Chamber Vienna), Sheconomy (magazine and online platform) and Women In Law Awards South Africa (WOZA).

In March 2019, WiL held the first international conference on the issue in Vienna, which was attended by leading experts and practitioners from all around the globe. The event was organized together with the University of Vienna School of Law. The academic cooperation is continuing, an academic advisory board has already identified the key topics to be discussed in the course of the next international conference, which will be held 4 – 6 June 2020:

bias || flexibility & agility || diversity/inclusion/intersectionality || threats || reaching the top

Moreover, the University of Vienna School of Law has agreed to introduce a new course to its curriculum (“Women in Law”, beginning with the Spring Semester of 2020), which will focus on the issues of women in the legal professions.

In order to learn more about the status quo and the current needs of women in the legal professions WiL has produced a survey (based on the pioneer work done by the Law Society of England and Wales), which is addressed at legal professionals (both female and male), and can be taken online at www.womeninlaw.info/survey. The results will be analyzed and discussed at the 2020 conference.

Various events will be organized and held in Central Europe to create awareness and promote the goals of the WiL initiative.

Following the conference, the Justitia award will be given to outstanding female laureates of the legal professions. Currently, three categories have been identified, namely

(1) international leaders / life time awards
(2) academia
(3) young achievers / game changers / pioneers