er s oes

Molina Asthana is appointed Vice President of the Law Institute of Victoria

BY JYOTI SHANKAR

eingappointed as Vice President ofthe LawInstituteofVictoria (LIV) is a hugely satisfying achieve1nent for Molina Asthana. Notonlydoesthismakeherthe first Indian-born woman - indeed the first Indian-born person - tobe elected to this position in the 162-yearhistoryofthis institution, italso1narkstheculn1ination ofa longjourneyof 16years,when as a newn1igrant, shewas told shewould struggleto get ajob inAustraliawithher Indian qualificationsand experience.

Despite havingworked as a lawyer in the Supreme CourtofIndia, Molina's degree and experiencewere discounted here. She took a MasterofLaws degree in Melbourne with good grades, but that wasn'tenough together started. Even as recruiters dismissed herapplications, Molina decided to1nake herown move.

"Meeting the partners at thebig lawfirms, I wouldtellthemaboutmy experiences,1nybackground and the value add that would bring," Molina told Indian Link, recountingthe early days ofstruggle. "When I gotmyfirstbreak, it wasat the top-tierlawfinn Clayton Utz."

Starting asa traineesolicitor, she climbed the ladderwithin n1onths. She soon beca1ne the Principal Solicitorat the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office, a position in whichsheserved foreleven years until twoyears ago.

Explainingher decision tostart her ownpractice, Molina said, "As I wentup the ranks, 1 realised that in spite ofall my effortorskills, I would probably never reach the top, like becomingpartner."

She decidedtoservice the migrant business population,whowere clamouring for "son1eonewhospoke theirlanguage and understood them culturally."

As awo1nanofcolour,she had hit whatshedescribesas the 'double-glazed glass ceiling'. Herownexperience ofthe law firn1 cliquewhere work culture is exclusionaryis telling. "People like me feela bit lostin the bigfirmswhere male colleaguesspeakofprivate schools they wenttoorthefootyand state clubs they belong to and don't make any effort to include you."

However,Molinaadapted quickly. She now sitsonsportingboards likeGymnastics Australia, theAFLSouthEastCommission andTribunalfortheFootballFederation ofAustralia. Sportwassomething

Molinarealisedcould beherstrengthin assin1ilatingintoAustralian culture.

"When I came here, I wasa1nazed to see everyoneparticipatingin some sport, whetherrunning, cycling, walkingor organised sportlike soccerorfooty. Iwas inspired," Molina revealed.

Shenowrunshalf-marathons. Itledhertolaunch anot-for-profit called MulticulturalWomeninSport, usingsportas a means ofempowerment and toincrease wellbeingand a sense of belonging. Jtworkswith large sporting organisations to help them restructure com1nunity programstomake them migrant-women-friendly.

"Wealso advocate formore inclusive spaces forwomen, such as allowing womentoplayin clothingtheyare comfortablewith like thehijabor longer clothing, have womenfacilitators, umpires and coaches, curtainswhen swimmingor separatetimingsforwomenwho are not comfortable swimmingaround men." Molina hopestouseheryear-long tenure as Vice President ofLIVto make a real impact. Allegations ofsexual harassmentare rife in herprofession. "More supportforvictims, awareness campaigns, and helping smaller firms set uppolicies tostem such behaviour, will be an areaoffocus," she stated.

Diversity in the legal profession is anotherissue. Manylawgraduatescome from diverse backgroundsbutdon't eventually make it to the top, thinningout at n1id-level. "There arebarelyanyjudges ofAsian/migrant background. Visually the profession is verywhite," Molina observed.

Recovery from COVID-19 is another focus for LIV. Not onlylawyers, but many migrant clientshavealso suffered. "Going online has benefitsbutwheneverything is tech-based, itis the most vulnerable that suffer,endingupbeingmarginalisedeven further."

Herown practice,which also runs an office in fndia, specialises in comn1ercial law. Cross-border work is Molina's passion. She speaks atlegalconferences in India and has been consulted on lawsdrafted there, relating to financial consumerprotection and privacy. She is alsotryingtomake iteasier foroverseas lawyers like herselfwho struggle to get theirprior learningand experiences recognisedwhen theymigrate.

To hear Molina in herownwordsand literallywalk inhershoes, head toSydneyMaritime Museu1n,where she is featured as part of'A mile in n1y shoes' event. Inside agiantshoebox, visitors are provided with astranger's pairofshoes and an audio recording and are encouraged towalk a mile to understandwhere thatperson came from and what has shaped their migration story. A free exhibition, it is on until 30 April 2021.

Molina'sadvice towomen inher profession isto equip themselves with knowledge and imbibegood things from the culture oftheiradoptedcountry while being true to their own heritage.

"1 encourage aUwomen, inparticular migrant women, toput their hands up for leadership positions. You have to make yourselfheard," says Molina who haswalked this talk and continues to, tirelessly.

Empoweringinsightinto women's strength andresilience