Queen Mary LLM students invited to 3VB International Women’s Day event with Lady Justice Juliet May
On 4 March, students from Queen Mary University of London’s Centre for Commercial Law Studies had the privilege of attending the 3VB International Advisory & Dispute Resolution Unit’s International Women’s Day event.
Organised by Professor Rosa Lastra, following the generous invitation by Sir William Blair and the International Advisory & Dispute Resolution Unit team, the afternoon provided an invaluable opportunity for the students to engage directly with leading practitioners from 3VB and the wider legal community.
The event featured insightful panel discussions and structured networking opportunities, allowing students to gain first-hand insights into the professional trajectories and personal experiences of accomplished lawyers. Lady Justice May’s reflections were particularly compelling, as she described how her academic and professional path enabled her to attain positions of substantial responsibility. Her observations on the evolving role of women in law highlighted not merely progress in representation but also the influence that diversity of perspective has on professional authority, decision-making, and institutional culture.
In the context of International Women’s Day, her remarks emphasised that visibility and participation in historically male-dominated fields are the conditions through which professional norms can be questioned and reinforced. The presence of women in law, as exemplified by Lady Justice May, not only diversifies the profession but also recalibrates its internal dynamics, demonstrating that lasting influence comes from the ability to shape the frameworks within which decisions are made, rather than simply occupying established positions.
Queen Mary LLM Student Kiara Jezerca, who attended the event, said: "The event provided a valuable opportunity to engage directly with accomplished professionals from 3VB and from across the wider legal community. Interacting in such an environment, listening to personal experiences, exchanging ideas, and establishing meaningful connections made the afternoon particularly significant. Events of this nature are essential for students, as they allow us to understand not only the intellectual demands of the profession but also the human journeys that shape it."