At 10.30 a.m., in a crowded courtroom, I stood waiting for my matter to be called out- brief in hand, heart steady, rehearsing arguments in mind and kept on thinking what judge might ask. At the same time, around me the familiar rhythm of litigation unfolded: Seniors discussing, juniors rushing with files, client’s murmurs and what not. Yet, beside this routine, there lingered an unspoken reality – being a woman in this space often meant being observed before being heard.
The Legal Profession in Maharashtra is dynamic, demanding, from bustling District Courts to the courtrooms of Bombay High Court, it offers immense opportunities- but not without its unique challenges particularly for women. Initially, I was very excited, sincere towards my word, dedicated, each day was a challenge and got to learn about the versatility of this field. But over a time, things felt little uncertain, self-doubt and the daily challenges that came on my way made me think that whether I am in the right filed. For many young lawyers, the transition from law school to active practice is overwhelming. For Women, it can be more layered. The initial years are all about long hours and procedural learning and financial uncertainty. Being a litigation lawyer, it does not promise instant returns unlike corporate law. Instead, it demands patience, persistence, and often, silent endurance.
Courtrooms in many ways comes with equal spaces- governed by law, procedure and merit. But the experiences for women can differ. Women lawyers often find themselves underestimated, especially in the early years of practice. There are moments where clients turn to male counterparts (thinking that females won’t be able to handle the matter), seniors sometimes give more priority to their male Lawyers (Gender bias/ discrimination), some view female lawyers are meant only for doing clerically stuff, thus being deprived to take the lead – lesser opportunities for appearance. Most of the female’s lawyers that I have come across have felt the same and some even said that field is very male dominating (Domination is the word that I heard the most) and further think that whether they made a wrong choose of choosing the filed or should they switch to corporate.
Sometimes the condition gets even worst, the uncleaned/ unhygienic washrooms, lack of proper infrastructure- specially in lower courts, not enough tables to sit, travel between different districts, working till late- safety concerns- are realities that cannot be ignored. The initial years of litigation are financially demanding. Many young lawyers rely on stipends or minimal earnings while building their practice. For women, this phase can be particularly challenging, especially when financial independence is weighed against societal timelines.
Along with the professional Challenges there comes societal expectations also. The profession demands irregular hours, last-minute preparations, and constant availability, factors that often clash with traditional expectations placed on women. Questions about marriage, family responsibility, and work life balance tends to surface more for women. For a married women lawyer, things get far more difficult- she is expected to balance multiple roles at once- professional, wife, daughter in law, sometimes being a mother, because of which career growth gets affected, sometimes opportunities get miss, has to take break for kids and thus has to re-start again, thus the challenge is not just professional but also personal- navigating ambition alongside expectations.
However, the women lawyers face all of these with open arms and smile, continue to work with at most sincerity and with every appearance, every submission and every order secured credibility is built. Respect though not immediate, is eventually earned through consistency and competence. Importantly, the narrative today is changing. Today, more women are not just participating but leading, arguing complex matters, heading chambers, and contributing significantly to the evolution of the profession.
