The year 2000 marked a special turning point for me not only because the new millennium had arrived but also because I had in fact been a solicitor for 25 years! This was a time to reflect on the risks and opportunities taken during the course of my legal professional life, on the experience gained, and the gains and losses encountered, as well as a time to consider the priorities for the future.

For me the law has truly been a passport literally to live and work elsewhere and to enable my essential views to be considered and have some impact. Having qualified in England and Wales I undertook an LLM in European and International Law at a time when these were rather remote and impractical topics. I went on to pursue a doctorate on ‘Legal Professional Establishment and the Freedom to provide Legal Services as a Specific Implementation of the General Non-discrimination Principle on Grounds of Nationality’. This became the basis for the first book that I have had published, Transnational Legal Practice in the EEC and the United States.

Yet my PhD was more than a theoretical matter: through this research and interest I decided to become a transnational lawyer in practice! Now, as an international lawyer and writer qualified also in the USA and India, specialising in international environmental law, I feel really privileged to have found some expression of my real self in my work and – through my non profit activities – managed to integrate my real interest in life-work balance, happiness and self-fulfilment.

As an international woman in law I have been fortunate enough to have lived largely in safe and peaceful circumstances. I have increasingly felt a desire to blend my practice and writing skills to reach out to lawyers all over the world to share experiences and to support and enjoy one another. This has been very much endorsed by my membership of the International Bar Association (IBA), which has continued since I became an Attorney at Law in New York. It is through the IBA’s Conference in Delhi that I first travelled to India in 1981: since this time I have travelled to both the USA and India annually and have made many friends and associates. Over these years what I have recognized is the value of communication: hence I have come almost full circle and the launch of this newsletter marks a return to my roots, my doctorate and my qualification as a solicitor in London.

Having also recognized the importance of communication and the transboundary approach, membership of the IBA also led to the invaluable connection with my friend and colleague Ruth Eldon. Over the years Ruth and I have worked together on various writing projects and have shared news and views covering many topics. One main theme has concerned women in law. When I suggested to Ruth that the potential for a service that could reach the minds and hearts of lawyers worldwide, taking advantage of the major advances in technology, I was thrilled to find a real understanding. Ruth’s extensive experience in the publishing and editing world – especially in the experience she has had as editor of the journals and books of the IBA – has added a dimension to the original idea that has proved vital. Without her support and enthusiasm I doubt that this inaugural issue would have emerged for many months or years!

Ruth’s vast experience has enabled a perfect start through the professional submissions in this issue. Together we would like to thank all of the IBA staff and members who have supported our work so enthusiastically and enabled the publication to materialise and be launched at the IBA’s Second World Women Lawyers Conference in London in June 2003.

In addition, since we have also felt conscious of the need to balance professional and personal issues to maintain a happy healthy life style, we have been delighted to enlist the experience of Claire Gilman, a health journalist. Claire will assist us with keeping such important matters at the centre of the other key topics that will be covered over the course of the life of the journal. We also look forward to regular contributions from Homeopathic Practitioner Jill Ryan.

A special thanks to Dianna Kempe, the IBA’s first women President (2000-2002), who gave us early encouragement when it was much needed and has continued throughout to provide both practical and moral support. We are delighted that she is launching her ‘E-mentoring’ project in this newsletter.

We truly wish to make this newsletter of value to the women (and men) who read it so please do e-mail us with your thoughts and comments, as well as contributions for future issues.

But this Newsletter is just the start – we have great plans to expand the Women in Law service, so please do give us your support, and watch this space!

Linda Spedding
Women in Law