{"id":109202,"date":"2025-09-10T10:46:49","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T10:46:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.taylorroot.com\/?p=109202"},"modified":"2026-02-25T12:41:38","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T12:41:38","slug":"a-female-partners-perspective-on-progress-in-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.taylorroot.com\/nl\/market-insight\/law-firms\/a-female-partners-perspective-on-progress-in-law\/","title":{"rendered":"From barriers to balance: a female partner\u2019s perspective on progress in law firms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Building a successful career in law firms <\/a>can be challenging, especially for those without connections or a traditional background. Jenna Ostrowski<\/a>, Corporate Partner at HCR Law, shares her experience of navigating the profession from the ground up, balancing career and family, and adapting to a changing legal landscape. Her story offers insight into how law firm culture is evolving and what aspiring female Lawyers can learn from her journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Watch the interview<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n


Starting without a network<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jenna\u2019s entry into the legal profession wasn\u2019t shaped by family ties or insider access. \u201cI was the first in my family to go to university,\u201d she explains. \u201cI didn\u2019t have parents or family friends who were lawyers. I had to find my own way in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After completing her LLB and LPC, she spent time gaining paralegal experience in-house and abroad before securing a training contract. Qualifying in 2011, she entered the market just after the 2008 financial crash \u2014 a time when corporate roles were scarce. \u201cMy corporate seat was split with restructuring and banking. When I qualified, there wasn\u2019t a corporate role available, so I moved firms to pursue that path.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those starting out without a network, Jenna\u2019s advice is clear: be proactive and build your own experience. \u201cI worked as a Paralegal in different environments \u2014 in-house, abroad, and in private practice. That gave me a broader perspective and helped me stand out when I applied for training contracts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also emphasises the importance of visibility and persistence. \u201cYou won\u2019t always get the role you want straight away. But every experience adds value. Keep showing up, keep learning, and don\u2019t be afraid to take a different route.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her early career included roles at Shoosmiths, Gately and DLA Piper, before joining KPMG Law to help build its legal team from the ground up. Each move was strategic, driven by a clear focus on gaining experience and progressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resilience through career and personal challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jenna\u2019s route to partnership wasn\u2019t without its setbacks. Qualifying in 2011, she entered a market still recovering from the 2008 financial crash. \u201cI hadn\u2019t had a busy corporate seat,\u201d she explains. \u201cSo qualifying into M&A was a steep learning curve.\u201d Without the volume of deal experience that a more active market might have offered, she had to build her confidence and capability quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than letting that slow her down, Jenna moved firms to find the right opportunities. Her early roles at Gateley plc and DLA Piper gave her the exposure she needed, and later, she joined KPMG Law to help establish its legal offering \u2014 a move that required both entrepreneurial thinking and adaptability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her career was also shaped by personal challenges. A cancer diagnosis in her mid-30s forced her to reassess priorities. \u201cIt changed my mindset completely,\u201d she says. \u201cIf anything, it made me more driven.\u201d That experience, combined with the demands of working in corporate law, gave her a clear sense of what she wanted from her career \u2014 and what kind of leader she wanted to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jenna\u2019s reflections speak to a reality many lawyers face: the profession is demanding, and the path to senior roles rarely unfolds exactly as planned. Market conditions, missed opportunities, and personal circumstances all play a part. What matters is how you respond \u2014 whether you\u2019re willing to adapt, keep learning, and stay focused on long-term goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How law firm culture is changing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most significant changes Jenna has seen is the shift in law firm culture \u2014 particularly around flexibility, inclusion and work-life balance. \u201cThe profession has changed drastically since I started my training contract in 2009. Firms are more open to candidates from different backgrounds, and hybrid working has become a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She credits the pandemic with accelerating this shift. \u201cCOVID proved that flexible working is possible. That\u2019s had a huge impact, especially for women in corporate law, where the hours can be intense.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At her current firm, flexibility is embedded in the culture. \u201cWe\u2019ve got team members working four-day weeks, others adjusting hours for school pick-ups. It\u2019s about balance \u2014 and it works. It\u2019s not just about women either. Men in my team also work flexibly to support their family commitments and childcare responsibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jenna believes this cultural shift is essential for retaining talent. \u201cIf firms don\u2019t offer flexibility, they\u2019ll lose people. It\u2019s that simple. Candidates are looking for environments that support their whole lives, not just their careers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leadership through role modelling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jenna\u2019s leadership style is grounded in authenticity and visibility. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about policies \u2014 it\u2019s about behaviours. I make sure my team sees that where I can make it work around work commitments, I prioritise personal time as well as work time. Whether it\u2019s a spin class or walking the dog, it\u2019s in my diary and visible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019s also passionate about mentoring, even if informally. \u201cI didn\u2019t have a mentor early on, and I wish I had. Later in my career, I had a fantastic mentor who supported me through senior promotions. Now, I try to offer that support to my team \u2014 being available, approachable, and showing that it\u2019s possible to succeed while living a full life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She emphasises that leadership isn\u2019t just about titles. \u201cIt\u2019s about creating an environment where people feel supported, where they can see what\u2019s possible and feel empowered to pursue it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balancing career and family<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a corporate partner and mother of a young child, Jenna is honest about the juggle. \u201cIt\u2019s not easy. My son goes to nursery five days a week, and I have the mum guilt. But my career is also important to me, and I hope he\u2019ll look back and be proud.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organisation is key. \u201cWe have a shared calendar and plan weeks ahead. My firm supports hybrid working, which helps me manage both client demands and family life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019s clear that flexibility should be available to everyone. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about women. Everyone benefits from a culture that respects personal commitments. That\u2019s how you build a sustainable workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What aspiring female Lawyers should look for<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jenna encourages women aiming for partnership to be intentional about where they work and who they work with. \u201cCulture matters. Look for firms that support flexible working, value diverse leadership, and invest in their people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also stresses the importance of mindset. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to have it all figured out from day one. Stay curious, stay motivated, and don\u2019t be afraid to take a different path. Your career is a long journey \u2014 and there\u2019s more than one way to reach the top.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch the interview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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