Ireland 27 www.lawyer-monthly.com Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Awards 2025 The legal sector isn’t always known for rapid evolution. How has AOC Solicitors managed to challenge industry norms and redefine what leadership looks like? When AOC Solicitors was established in 2017, boutique employment law firms were not the norm. I felt employment law had the potential to lend itself well to such a setting. Thankfully, this proved to be the case and, through the hard work of our team and loyalty of our clients, we managed to challenge the norm by establishing ourselves within the market and growing the firm to what it is today. In terms of redefining leadership, we believe that real leadership is about promoting and supporting teamwork, and we try to adopt that approach in our day-to-day work. We also try to maintain an environment where all team members (regardless of seniority) communicate openly about aspects of their work that are going well and aspects they are finding challenging. This allows us all to both help and learn from each other. We try to be forward-thinking and flexible in the approach we take to how we work. For example, when the firm was established in 2017, most law firms still operated in a very traditional workspace with traditional working hours. Our firm is proud to have been ahead of its time in introducing options such as remote and flexible working very soon after our establishment, and long before Covid. These benefits have helped us along the way in attracting and retaining the right people for the right roles. You’re clearly paving the way for future female leaders in law. How important is mentorship within your firm, and how do you ensure women continue to rise through the ranks? Mentorship is absolutely central to our firm’s ethos—it’s not just something we encourage, it’s something we actively build into our structure and culture. I remind new members of our team that “the only stupid question is the question that you do not ask.” We believe that true leadership isn’t just about reaching the top; it’s about holding the door open for others to follow. That mindset drives everything we do when it comes to supporting the next generation of female leaders in law. We ensure women continue to rise through the ranks by creating clear, transparent pathways to leadership, offering meaningful development opportunities, and pairing junior lawyers with mentors who are invested in their growth. We focus on more than just technical skill—we nurture confidence, resilience, and strategic thinking. What does a modern, inclusive, and high-performing legal workplace look like to you, and how have you built that at AOC Solicitors? To me, a modern, inclusive, and high-performing legal workplace is one where diversity is genuinely valued, voices “I wanted to create a firm where collaboration was prioritised over competition and where values mattered as much as outcomes. From day one, excellence, authenticity, accountability, and respect have been the backbone of our culture and continue to guide us as we grow.” Q Q Q
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