Adelaide-based Lawson Smith Lawyers, Piper Alderman, Armour & Allen and Hayward & Co Lawyers are now accredited with the Pink Tick from the Female Friendly association.

Brenda Gray, national accreditation manager at Female Friendly, said that gaining the Pink Tick sends a positive message to potential female clients: “It’s a sign that [the accredited firms] are female-friendly, that you can approach them, be treated well– not get ripped off,” she said.

At Piper Alderman, partner Tim O’Callaghan said the firm would be paying closer attention to how their lawyers were dealing with clients of both genders.

“We need to look at our processes and the way in which we relate to women,” O’Callaghan said. “It’s a matter of education of individual lawyers – again because we’re looking at how people deal with women and if there are any differences we need to explore.”

“I think there are still men who threaten women in business – even when they are acting for them,” he said.