A quick look at Ukraine’s upper legal echelons reveals a male-dominated world. Yet more women, who make up a large share of associate positions at Ukrainian law firms, are breaking through to the ranks of partners in a demanding business while also – miraculously at times – doing more than their fair share at home.
Thus, Ukraine is gradually catching up with the West, where women increasingly figure among a firm’s top brass, said Irina Tymczyszyn, partner at London-based Bryan Cave. A mother of two daughters, Tymczyszyn knows what it takes for a woman to make it to the top. She is regarded as the first Ukraine-born lawyer to land a partner position at a major London firm.
Female lawyers in Ukraine say they often face serious discrimination, often holding lower positions and salaries for years while their male counterparts move up with less effort and worse results.
“Women are often looked down upon, and their success makes some men more defensive and suspicious, ultimately making things harder, one leading female lawyer said on condition of anonymity because she did not want to be identified publicly discussing private matters. “Some people were asking me: ‘who is your husband?’ When they found out that I am unmarried, they asked: ‘Who is your lover?’”
The attitude, she said, was that women can’t succeed on their own. “Ultimately, it was tougher. But it helped me work my way up.”
The situation is changing slowly.
“In 1971 when I entered a university in the U.S., this was also an issue. Out of 150 law students only 20 were women. Now 60 percent are female,” said Jaroslawa Johnson, managing partner in Ukraine for Chadbourne & Parke.
“The same is happening in Ukraine now. I work with incredible female lawyers. Most of the resumes I get are from women, most of them have both Ukrainian and foreign education and very good chances to succeed,” Johnson added. Johnson recalled that when she first came to Ukraine, there were almost no female lawyers. Now there are many associates, but less in partnership positions.
Some lawyers say women are naturally better at multitasking, juggling work and family responsibilities at levels that would overwhelm an average man.
“To arrange the kindergarten, to check immunization, plan extracurricular activities, and buy clothes, shoes for fast-growing kids … Men are usually not dealing with these issues, because they are often all-consumed with their legal career,” said Oksana Voynarovskaya, partner at Vasyl Kisil & Partners.
Tymczyszyn gave birth to two daughters while she was a junior associate at a top London law firm. “It was viewed by my superiors as a lack of career commitment, even career suicide,” she recalls. But Tymczyszyn spent only three months on maternity leave after giving birth to her children, now ages 9 and 5.
To succeed, women advise humility, point to support and understanding from husbands, parents and in-laws, not to mention nannies. And don’t neglect family. “I spend weekends with my family and try to come home before 9pm to read and talk to my children,” Tymczyszyn said.
“Learn to delegate,” Voynarovskaya said. “Decide which issues need personal involvement and which can be delegated to a nanny, husband, and other relatives.”
Kyiv Post staff writer Svitlana Tuchynska can be reached at [email protected].
