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

comfortable swimmingaroundmen."

BY JYOTI SHANKAR

eing appointedas VicePresident ofthe LawInstituteofVictoria (LIV) is a hugely satisfying achieve1nent forMolina Asthana.

Notonlydoes this makeherthe first Indian-born woman - indeedthe first Indian-bornperson - tobe elected to this position inthe 162-year historyofthis institution, it also1narkstheculn1ination of a longjourneyof16years,when as anewn1igrant, shewas toldshewould struggleto get ajob inAustralia withher Indian qualifications andexperience.

Despite having worked as a lawyer in the SupremeCourtofIndia, Molina's degree andexperiencewerediscounted here. She took a MasterofLawsdegree inMelbourne with goodgrades, but that wasn'tenough togetherstarted. Even as recruitersdismissed herapplications, Molina decidedto 1nake herown move.

"Meeting the partners at thebig lawfirms, I wouldtellthem aboutmy experiences, 1ny background andthe value addthat wouldbring," Molina told Indian Link, recountingthe earlydays ofstruggle. "When I gotmyfirstbreak, it was at the top-tierlawfinn Clayton Utz."

Starting as a trainee solicitor,she climbedtheladderwithinn1onths. She soonbeca1ne the Principal Solicitorat the VictorianGovernmentSolicitor'sOffice, a positionin whichsheservedforeleven yearsuntiltwoyears ago.

Explainingherdecision to start her ownpractice, Molina said, "AsI wentup the ranks, 1 realised that in spite ofall my effortorskills, I wouldprobablynever reach the top, like becomingpartner."

She decidedtoservice the migrant businesspopulation, whowereclamouring for"son1eone whospoke theirlanguage andunderstoodthemculturally."

As a wo1nanofcolour, she hadhit what shedescribesas the 'double-glazed glass ceiling'.Herownexperience ofthe law firn1cliquewhere work cultureis exclusionaryis telling. "Peoplelike me feela bitlostinthebigfirmswhere male colleagues speakofprivate schools they wenttoorthefootyand state clubs they belong to anddon't make any effortto includeyou."

However,Molina adaptedquickly. She nowsitsonsportingboardslikeGymnastics Australia,theAFLSouthEastCommission andTribunalfortheFootballFederation ofAustralia.Sportwassomething

Molinarealisedcouldbeherstrengthin assin1ilatingintoAustralianculture.

"WhenI camehere, I wasa1nazedto see everyone participatingin some sport, whetherrunning, cycling, walkingor organisedsportlike soccerorfooty. I was inspired," Molina revealed.

Shenowrunshalf-marathons. Itledhertolaunch a not-for-profit calledMulticulturalWomeninSport, usingsport as a meansofempowerment andtoincrease wellbeingand a sense of belonging. Jtworkswithlarge sporting organisationstohelpthem restructure com1nunity programstomake them migrant-women-friendly.

"Wealso advocate formore inclusive spaces forwomen, such as allowing womentoplayinclothingtheyare comfortablewithlike thehijaborlonger clothing,have womenfacilitators, umpires andcoaches, curtainswhenswimmingor separate timingsforwomenwho arenot

l'M LOVING

Molina hopesto useheryear-long tenure as Vice PresidentofLIVto make a realimpact. Allegationsofsexual harassment are rife inherprofession. "More supportforvictims, awareness campaigns, andhelpingsmallerfirms set uppolicies tostemsuchbehaviour, willbe an areaoffocus,"shestated.

Diversity in the legalprofessionis anotherissue. Manylawgraduatescome fromdiverse backgroundsbutdon't eventually make it to the top, thinningout atn1id-level. "There are barely anyjudges ofAsian/migrant background. Visually the profession is verywhite," Molina observed.

Recovery from COVID-19is another focus forLIV. Notonlylawyers, butmany migrantclients have also suffered. "Going online has benefits butwheneverythingis tech-based, it is the most vulnerable that suffer,ending upbeing marginalisedeven further."

Herown practice, which also runs an office infndia, specialises in comn1ercial law.Cross-border work is Molina's passion. She speaks at legal conferences inIndia andhasbeenconsultedon lawsdrafted there, relating to financial consumerprotection andprivacy. She is also trying to make iteasier foroverseas lawyerslike herselfwho struggle to get theirpriorlearningandexperiences recognisedwhen theymigrate.

Tohear Molina inher own words and literally walk inhershoes, head toSydney Maritime Museu1n, where she is featured as partof'A mile inn1y shoes' event. Inside a giantshoebox, visitors are providedwith a stranger's pairofshoes and an audio recording and are encouragedtowalk a mile to understandwhere thatperson came from and whathas shaped their migration story.A free exhibition, it is onuntil30 April2021.

Molina'sadvicetowomeninher professionis to equip themselves with knowledge andimbibegoodthingsfrom the cuJture oftheiradoptedcountry while being true to their ownheritage.

"1encourage aUwomen,inparticular migrant women, toputtheirhandsup forleadershippositions. Youhaveto make yourselfheard," says Molina who haswalked this talk andcontinues to, tirelessly.

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