Women in Law: Breaking Barriers and Redefining Success

Maya Rosebrugh-Galipeau

As of January 2025 in Canada, women represent around 60% of recent post-secondary graduates, constitute over half of the Senate and account for nearly one-third of the members of Parliament. Within the legal field specifically, women comprise 73.1% of higher education graduates. 

A clear distinction from 130 years ago when women were facing barriers to entry given that they were not legally considered “persons” as experienced by Clara Brett Martin, the first female lawyer in Canada and the British Empire. Dating back to 1955, when women, such as Justice Bertha Wilson, the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, were told by the Dean to “go home and take up crocheting” when enrolling in law school. Thanks to the inspiring women who came before us and broke the pre-assigned mould of what a woman ought to do, the justice system has jumped leaps ahead. This, however, does not mean that everything within the judicial system is where it should be, but we have made strides in the right direction. As a pre-law student, I was very curious to take an inside look at the legal profession in our current day. 

Even though statistics have changed, is the foundation of this traditionally male dominated career still lingering? Has the notion of the law being a “boys club” shifted to being more inclusive? Has the impact of women changed the way we view justice, advocacy and leadership? 

I interviewed civil litigation lawyer Rachel Law to find out more about her experience in becoming a lawyer. My goal was to learn how she manages life in this demanding field and to hear her perspective on the questions I’ve been eager to ask.

Ms. Rachel Law completed her Bachelors of Arts in English Language & Literature and her Doctor of Law at Queen’s University. She then went on to work in family law and social assistance before discovering her passion in civil litigation at Bergeron Clifford LLP. In the educational field, Rachel is currently teaching LAW 201 as an adjunct Lecturer at Queen’s University's Faculty of Law and she served as the former Academic Assistant for the Introduction to Legal skills. For the second year running, she is also serving as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Frontenac Law Association. 

We began by discussing her early studies and the path that led her to both practice and teaching. Here’s what she had to say…

“What first drew you to study law, and how did your path eventually lead you to teaching at Queen’s?”

The funny version is that I had a wonderful French teacher in high school, Sue Graff. In my grade nine French class, she once told me that if I am going to argue this much, I ought to do it for a living. I don’t think she meant it as a compliment at the time, but, here I am. 

More seriously, I saw how profoundly the law affected people around me (friends, family members going through a divorce, for example) and I wanted to be able to help them. 

My path to teaching at Queen’s started when I took LAW 201 as an undergrad. I later became a TA as a law student, then supervised the TAs as a new lawyer, and eventually stepped into teaching the course myself. I also taught Introduction to Legal Skills (LAW 135) as an Academic Assistant for a few terms. Teaching became a natural extension of my desire to help people understand a system that can feel intimidating from the outside. 

“What are the biggest challenges that you faced as a student and how should one navigate these challenges?”

My biggest challenge was figuring out what I actually wanted my career to look like. It seemed like everyone else had it figured out on Day One, and I didn’t. I found the OCI (on campus interview) process overwhelming, and it escaped me that I didn’t have to chase a Bay Street or Bank Street job.

When I figured out that I could stay in Kingston, build a life, and practice the kind of law I went to school to do, things became clearer. The smaller market meant fewer formal opportunities, but it also meant more meaningful relationship-building. I actually met one of the Partners at Bergeron Clifford through the Frontenac Law Association about four years before I joined the firm. Realizing that there is no single “right” path was incredibly liberating.

In the words of an expert, you do not have to have it all figured out. Your focus should therefore be on zoning in on your priorities and letting the dominos fall into place.

“How have you seen the legal profession evolve for women since you began your career?”

Being called pre-pandemic and then practicing through and after the pandemic gave me a front-row seat to a shifting profession. The move to virtual work improved flexibility, but it also reduced the organic networking opportunities that help young lawyers feel connected. This is something that women in particular can miss out on in smaller firms or solo practice. 

Women are graduating from law schools at equal or higher rates than men, but we’re still seeing more women leaving the profession. Progress is very real, but so are the challenges that remain. 

Since breaking barriers in the 1990s with an equal number of women graduating from Canadian law schools, there has been an ongoing shift where women now frequently outnumber men. 

“Despite progress, what challenges would you say women still face in law today (if any) especially in leadership or private practice?”

There are however still challenges women face in law, burnout being one of the most notable, with 71% of women leaving their positions citing work-life balance as a primary reason. Rachel expressed her opinion on challenges stating:  

Work-life balance is a universal challenge, but it often affects women differently, especially around parenting. I was pregnant during my articling term, had my son two weeks after being called to the bar and learned I was expecting my daughter as I started my job at Bergeron Clifford. I’ve never been a lawyer without also being a parent.

Balancing both roles isn’t always easy, but being in a firm led by Partners who are also parents makes a significant difference. Many women still struggle with questions about when to have a family and how to manage it alongside a demanding career. Supportive workplace cultures help everyone, regardless of gender, navigate those decisions. Having a network of women who are also parents and have been through it themselves also helps. 

Finding balance between career and family often goes hand in hand with redefining what success truly means, especially for women in law.

“Are there misconceptions about what it means to “succeed” as a woman in law that you think students should rethink?”

Success is an individual notion. For me, it’s when my kids are healthy and happy and I’m present in their lives, and my work is moving forward the way it should. It took time to find a firm where I could genuinely do both. Students should define success for themselves instead of trying to match someone else’s version of it. That definition can evolve as your life does, and that’s okay. 

Defining success on your own terms also means building the connections that help you grow– both personally and professionally.

“What one piece of advice would you give to every young woman entering the legal field?”

Network, network, network. It’s so crucial. Some of my closest friends are people I met through professional events. Many are the first people I turn to, both professionally and personally, when I need perspective. Networking doesn’t always have to be formal or transactional. Getting involved in your local law association is a great place to start. In Kingston, I sit on the Board of the Frontenac Law Association, but I also organize casual events including lunches, paint nights, and axe throwing, that allow lawyers to connect without the pressure of a suit-and-tie environment. 

This is your sign to activate your Linkedin account and start reaching out to professors and those around you in the Queen’s community and at home. Even though it might seem intimidating at first, taking that first step to reach out and force yourself out of your comfort zone can lead to life changing advice and it deepens your relationships, opening new opportunities and doors. 

Mentorship

Her mentorship journey involved mentors of all genders. Within the Queen’s Law Clinics she found (and has still maintained) support in Karla McGrath and Linda Smith. She notes that when she started her own practice fresh out of law school with a newborn, Leanne Wight was there every step of the way. She even hand-made baby blankets for both of her children! And, when she joined Bergeron Clifford, she gained five new fantastic mentors in the Partners at the firm. 

Rachel added: “Women uplifting women is fantastic and essential, but as women, it’s okay (and necessary) to have support from men too. Different perspectives have helped me navigate everything from case strategy to career decisions. While the perspective that I get from my female network and my male network don’t always align, but are both helpful in different ways.” 

“But how do you stand out and build confidence in competitive environments?”

Rachel emphasizes the idea that experience builds confidence. 

I found the most rewarding part of law school was working in the Queen’s Law Clinics because I was able to develop first-hand experience working with clients, the law, and the Courts. This experience definitely made me more confident going into Court as an Articling Student and as a lawyer. 

Follow your interests. If trial work doesn’t appeal to you (no pun intended), don’t moot. If you are all about civil litigation, don’t take courses about tax law. You will always do better, both academically and emotionally, in areas that genuinely interest you. Confidence comes much more naturally when you’re actively engaged.  

“Building upon confidence, another critical skill (beyond academics) identified by Rachel, that helps students thrive is simply “being a good person”. “

It sounds simple, but professionalism, integrity, and empathy matter. The best lawyers I know are also some of the best people I know. It’s easy to get caught up in the competition in law school, and there is a fair bit of competition in practice, but, if you’re a good person, the rest will follow.

When I was considering Bergeron Clifford, everyone I spoke to said the same thing: they’re excellent lawyers and exceptional people. That has absolutely been my experience. 

“As a parting piece of advice, I asked if she could speak to her younger self, right before entering law school, what would she say?”

You don’t have to have everything figured out right away. There is a lot of pressure to pick a field of law, a city, and a firm before you’ve even taken your first exam. Everything I thought I wanted changed multiple times in and after law school. 

I never imagined I would be practicing personal injury 10 years after Orientation Week, but I genuinely love what I do. Changing your mind (and your path) isn’t a failure; it’s part of building a career and a life that fits you. 

Her words serve as a reminder that success in law isn’t about having a fixed plan– it’s about staying open to growth, change, and the unexpected turns that shape your career. When asked what gives her hope about today’s generation of women entering law, she said, “That we still have women entering the law!” It’s a simple but powerful reminder that every new voice continues to shape a profession once closed to so many.

Work Cited

ARAG Legal Insurance. “Celebrating the Remarkable and Breaking the Bias.” Celebrating the Remarkable and Breaking the Bias, 2017. https://www.arag.ca/en/legal-articles/celebrating-the-remarkable-and-breaking-the-bias/.

Chowhan, Ruhana. “The Rise of Female-Led Law Firms in Canada | Canadian Bar Association.” Cba.org, 2025. https://www.cba.org/sections/women-lawyers/member-articles/the-rise-of-female-led-law-firms-in-canada/.

Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. “Proportion of Male and Female Postsecondary Graduates, by Field of Study and International Standard Classification of Education.” www150.statcan.gc.ca, February 19, 2020. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3710013502.

Law, Rachel. Women In Law. Interview by Maya Rosebrugh-Galipeau, November 12, 2025.

Preston, Vanessa, and Miek van Gaalen. “Gender Equality in Canada.” Parl.ca, 2025. https://lop.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications/202504E.