Lawyers Weekly’s fifth annual
Women in Law Forum 2026
Leadership, strategy, and the new legal frontier
Why attend?
Lawyers Weekly's fifth annual Women in Law Forum is a practical, two-stream event designed to deliver the strategic tools and leadership insights needed to thrive.
We move past the buzzwords to focus on real professional development, wellbeing, flexible work, law firm operations, and the career milestones that matter.
Network with purpose
Connect with peers, leading public figures, and advocates to build a powerful professional network.
Be inspired
Learn directly from leaders and change-makers from across the profession who are successfully navigating the path to seniority and equity.
Gain practical takeaways
Walk away with actionable strategies you can implement immediately in your practice and career.
Drive progress
Discover how to work collectively to enact permanent, lasting change in the Australian legal profession.
Watch
See the Women in Law Forum in action.
A look at the energy, conversations, and community that define Australia's premier leadership forum for women in law.
Opening keynote spotlight
Leadership in the law and the future for lawyers in the world of AI
We are pleased to welcome The Honourable Lorraine Walker, former Chief Magistrate of the ACT Magistrates Court, to deliver this year's opening keynote address. Rethinking leadership, career management, and client value in an era of rapid technological change.
Agenda highlights
What your day will look like
A carefully paced day with two streams running concurrently — switch between Leadership and career advancement and Operational excellence and practice innovation.
Conference registration and networkingNetworking
MC welcomeKeynote
Opening keynote: Leadership in the law and the future for lawyers in the world of AIKeynote
Rethinking leadership, career management and client value This keynote will explore lessons learned by the former Chief Magistrate of the ACT during her 40-yea…
The leadership gap: why 58% entry doesn't equal 50% equityPanel
Why women dominate entry-level roles but face barriers to reaching senior ownership and equity partnership • Identifying the barriers that …
AI execution - moving from "prompting" to "first principles"Panel
Moving past the hype to use verified digital tools that reduce administrative tasks, dismantle the billable hour and increase strategic outp…
Flexibility ROI: moving from 'perk' to performancePanel
Does the so-called "motherhood penalty" - the career bias faced by mothers - still hold sway in today's legal profession? • Assessing wheth…
Trauma-informed practice and vicarious traumaPanel
Essential skills for managing high-conflict matters while protecting your mental health and professional longevity • Transforming trauma-in…
Why Women Leave: Insights from the 2025 Lawyers Weekly Legal Firm of Choice SurveyPanel
Examining the real drivers behind female turnover and how to build a "firm of choice" that retains top talent • Uncovering the factors that…
The new "rainmaker": building digital influencePanel
Using digital platforms to build authority, attract premium clients and grow your professional "brand" • Utilising digital influence to nav…
Closing remarks from MCKeynote
Choose your path
Two targeted streams
Tailor your forum experience by switching between two distinct, high-impact streams designed to address your specific professional goals.
Leadership and career advancement
Focus on navigating the path to seniority, dismantling traditional career biases, understanding turnover trends, and strengthening professional alliances to build collective workplace power.
- Navigating the path to seniority
- Dismantling traditional career biases
- Understanding turnover trends
- Strengthening professional alliances
Operational excellence and practice innovation
Equip your practice with modern, practical strategies, protect your professional wellbeing and resilience, build a strong digital brand, and understand how new technology is transforming daily practice and the structure of legal teams.
- Protecting professional wellbeing and resilience
- Building a strong digital brand
- Technology transforming daily practice
- Structure of legal teams
By the numbers
The forum in figures.
This is your forum.
Don't miss the most important conversation in Australian law this year.