RSS Feed

Viewing articles from January, 2014

Report on the 2013 conference

01 Jan 2014

CWLA Conference 2013

 

Value For Money

Yes

 

13

 

 

No

 

1

 

 

Comments

  • Not Sure Firm Paid.
  • Yes. Great food and service & room set up good. I was lucky to sit at a table.
  • Sponsored by Law School.
  • Especially considering the very high calibre of speaker.

Relevant

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

  • Learned a lot of “Life Tips” that were passed on by speakers.
  • It was the personal stories of the speaker that were most interesting.
  • Good range of relevant topics.
  • Relevant to all ages and many professions.
  • Each speaker had valuable advice to share, based on their experiences.
  • Thought provoking & reassuring.

Convenient

 

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

2

 

  • Very Convenient.
  • Great central location. Afternoon was not too long (as opposed to a whole day).
  • Parking convenient, easy to get too.
  • Parking a bit tough due to amount of members and other clients in building.
  • Very nice venue. Just a shame some were on tables and some were on chairs.


Other comments:

What did you like best about this year’s conference?

  • Coming together as a group, feeling of solidarity with other women. Lisa O’Neill.
  • The range of speakers, and the candid contents as well as their willingness to share their own experiences. The insights drawn out by Helen Cull QC in between speakers were also great. Liked the inclusion of the “young” perspective at the end too.
  • The quality of speakers and the advice they had to share.
  • Focus on women and nurturing to our inner selves. Sharing of stories by speakers. - Range from image to relationships to inequality.
  • So many great things- Venue was lovely, excellent speakers, goodie bags and magazines were a great touch. The networking function after was also a nice way to end.
  • Fantastic line up & good turnout. Interesting networking. I was attracted as a result of the calibre of speakers/MC as apposed to the topic.
  • The incredible quality and variety of speakers.

If there were to be an annual professional woman’s conference in Christchurch, what time of year is most convenient; and what day of the week suits best?

  • Whatever suits speakers to ensure a good line up.
  • Any day of week, any time of year.
  • Friday is good.
  • Autumn. Plenty of time left in the year to make personal decisions and effect change.
  • November, Friday.
  • Friday is a good day – but may not suit property lawyers with settlements often happening on a Wednesday. Any time of year is good (but avoid school holiday time).
  • Thursday’s in November.
  • Mid October. Mid week day preferred.

What topics/issues would you like to see covered at future conferences?

  • Always Lisa O’Neill! Similar issues – how women balance work, family, money & health.
  • How to get our male colleagues to see unconscious bias.
  • What could be career recognition options in law firms other than partnership.
  • Similar from other such speakers.
  • Potential Women’s issues within the law specific.
  • A similar format would be great- inspiring, high achieving women. Don’t try to do topics that other conferences/forums cover.
  • It was interesting to hear other people’s success/failure stories. Most women would not usually share these with you.
  • More life experiences conveyed, how to juggle all aspects of life, how to progress from experience.

How could we improve on this year’s conference? Any suggestions would be welcomed

  • Really good speakers who will tell it like it is. Women who are achieving (not only professionally) and how they do it. Need to hear from women who are actually doing things in business and other fields, not psychologists/HR people. It was excellent bar a couple of speakers
  • Although this year’s range of speakers was great, it would be good to hear more about how senior women in law firms have made it to where they are.
  • All good. One speaker though did not “hit the right note”. Other speakers were all excellent. Humour was great.
  • Either have tables for everyone to sit at or no tables at all.
  • Perhaps a little bit shorter. A couple of speaker covered similar topics so was a little bit repetitive at times.
  • Just everyone on same seating options, all on round tables preferably but excellent value for money.

Summary

The 2013 CWLA conference went really well. There was a lot of positive feedback amongst the attendees, as well as constructive criticism. The ladies felt as though the calibre of speakers was impressive as well as the topics they covered and the advice they had to share. There was a wonderful sense of solidarity and the coming together as a group. Majority of the group agreed that a Friday in the later part of the year was most suitable and convenient to attend.

Almost everyone who returned their form commented that tables should have been available for everyone or for no-one. It seemed unfair for some to have tables. Suggestions for future conferences :

  • how women balance work, family, money & health
  • How to get our male colleagues to see unconscious bias
  • What could be career recognition options in law firms other than partnership
  • Women’s issues within the law specific.
  • More life experiences conveyed and how to juggle all aspects of life.
  • hear from senior women in law firms and how they have made it to where they are.

Tags: Conference

There are no comments - be the first! | Permalink

Post a comment

(This is the name your post will be shown under)
(Your email address will not be shown)
(If you can see this, you need to enable Javascript and CSS and refresh your browser. You will be unable to post a comment.)

Stay Informed

Please feel free to enter your details below to signup for our newsletter service and receive copies of these articles directly in your inbox when they are published.