Our Objectives

Tasmanian Women Lawyers is an organisation committed to women in all aspects of the legal profession. This includes judicial officers, professionals, academics, graduates and students. Our objectives drive our support of TWL members in that we work to:

• ​Advance and encourage equality for women in the legal profession.
  
• Create and enhance awareness of contribution to the practice and development of the law by women.
  
• Provide support and mentoring opportunities for women in the legal profession.
  
• ​Provide a forum for the exchange of information and opinions on aspects of the law relating to women.
  
• Provide a professional and social network for women lawyers​​​.
  

Our Patron

Professor Margaret Otlowski

Tasmanian Women Lawyers is honoured to welcome Professor Margaret Otlowski as the Association’s new Patron.  Margaret is Pro Vice-Chancellor (Culture and Well Being) and the former Dean and Head of School, Faculty of Law at the University of Tasmania.  Margaret was admitted to practice and after completing her PhD, worked full-time in academia as well as part-time quasi-judicial roles, including as member of the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Tribunal.

Margaret has worked as consultant for key national bodies including the National Bioethics Consultative Committee, the Australian Law Reform Commission and the National Health and Medical Research Council. She has longstanding experience in health law and ethics, publishing extensively in the field including a book on Voluntary Euthanasia published by Oxford University Press in the UK.

Margaret has been awarded a teaching excellence award and a teaching merit certificate. Margaret is also the Honorary Consul for Switzerland in Tasmania. In 2015 she was made a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.

In this appointment, the Association recognises the vital role of academia as one of the pillars of the legal profession. Together, the TWL and Professor Otlowski will focus on issues such as mental health in the profession and improving women lawyers’ networks from the very start of their careers.