Elizabeth Aitken (TC 2006) of TressCox Lawyers has scooped the Young Gun of the Year award at the fourth annual Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards, it was announced at a recent black tie event.
More than 340 people turned up to the Grand Hyatt to celebrate the achievements of the winners, carefully selected by a panel of high-profile judges.
The Women in Law Awards are important, Liz believes, to help advance woman in an industry traditionally dominated by male practitioners. While this is swiftly changing with a current majority of female graduates, workplace attrition rates for female lawyers (particularly around five years post-admission) remain high.
‘The Women in Law Awards is consequently not only a wonderful forum to celebrate female legal talent, but may also assist in the retention of practitioners and recognition of those through the proverbial “glass ceiling”, like leading barrister Fiona McLeod SC who received this year’s Excellence Award.’
Since her admission, Liz has been fortunate to have the opportunity to work on a number of high profile and challenging legal matters for large employers in a variety of industries. A recent matter she successfully defended is now a leading authority in the new work place bullying jurisdiction.
Outside work Liz has been active as an Executive Committee Member of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Workplace Relations Section, and Victorian Women Lawyers, an association aiming to increase opportunities for participation and advancement of women in the legal profession.
