Define your own path, judiciary, Bar, academia urge women in law
Break the mould, claim the stage, and define your own path. This was the united message from the Bench, Bar and academia at a thought-provoking panel discussion on “Unconventional Advocacy and the Path Ahead for Women” held at Law Bhawan here today.
Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, senior academics and advocates called on women in law not to wait for traditional routes or institutional nods, but to seize space, trust their merit, and reshape the legal profession through bold visibility, unflinching self-belief, and collective upliftment.
The panel comprised Justice Meenakshi I Mehta, Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj, Justice Pankaj Jain, Dr Shruti Bedi, Director, UILS, Panjab University, and advocate Rameeza Hakeem. The session was organised by the Indian Women in Commercial Dispute Resolution.
Justice Mehta recalled her appointment as the first woman judicial officer posted at Sirsa at a time when women, especially from marginalised background, were barely seen in robes. “One doesn’t have to choose between personal fulfilment and professional ambition,” she said, urging women lawyers to embrace non-traditional roles, nurture creativity, and hold firm to their dreams. “Balance is not just possible — it is essential,” said Justice Mehta.
Justice Bhardwaj turned the lens on men in the legal ecosystem, urging them to be “active agents of change”. “Change begins at home,” he said, adding that gender equality in law meant trusting women with the same risks, responsibilities and leadership as their male peers. “To uplift is to trust,” he said, calling for deeper mentorship and confidence-building.
Justice Pankaj Jain addressed the pressing issue of visibility. “Be more present. Step forward,” he told women lawyers, revealing that several amicus curiae appointed by him have been females. “Don’t call her a great female lawyer. Say she is a great lawyer — period,” Justice Jain added.
Dr Shruti Bedi underlined the role of educational institutions in dismantling biases. She detailed initiatives at Panjab University that ensure gender-neutral platforms for legal reasoning and leadership.
Advocate Rameeza Hakeem spoke about institutional faith finally shifting in the favour of women in law. “There were days I wanted to walk away. But I stayed headstrong,” she said, striking a chord with young lawyers. Her advice: “The ground will hold you — if you hold your ground.”
The event concluded with a lively question and answer session, marking the discussion as both a mirror and a roadmap for the future of women in Indian advocacy.
