Q&A with the Women of Rix & Kay – Angela Arnold
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Rix & Kay proudly celebrates International Women’s Day (8 March 2025). International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on 8 March as a global movement toward a gender-equal world, free from bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. Sponsored by the UN since 1975, IWD highlights the need for meaningful action to drive progress
For 2025, the theme of International Women’s Day is #AccelerateAction, which calls for urgent and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. At the current rate of progress, full gender parity won’t be reached until 2158—a staggering five generations from now—according to the World Economic Forum. This stark reality underscores the importance of removing systemic barriers and biases that women continue to face, both in personal and professional spheres.
To gain insight into gender equality in the legal industry, we spoke with Angela Arnold, a Partner at Rix & Kay. She shares her thoughts on International Women’s Day, her experiences as a woman in law, and the key changes needed to drive progress in the profession.
Q&A with Angela Arnold: Breaking Barriers in Law
Angela is a partner of the firm and is head of the Residential Property team. Her journey into the legal profession came later in her professional life. Initially earning a place at the Inns of Court School of Law with the ambition of becoming a barrister, she became acutely aware that the route would mean the possibility of ending up in huge debt, despite the bursaries that were on offer at the time. This led Angela to pivot into qualifying as a Solicitor.
Her career has been shaped by those who saw her potential and offered opportunities along the way. As a ‘late starter,’ she describes her experience securing paralegal work and a training contract.
The opportunities provided for paralegal work and a subsequent training contract have been an adventure, to say the least. I believe that albeit I have life experience, the encouragement I received from Partners at larger law firms in London and even peers constantly reminds me that it is the people who count and not the title.
I came to Rix & Kay as a locum, however, the leadership recognised my experience, efforts and giftings. I’ve never pushed on doors, but have knocked gently to ensure that I didn’t go unnoticed. However, I’m proud to have been elected for the role as current Vice-President of Sussex Law Society.
It was overwhelming initially, but I’ve always wanted to leave a legacy and inspire those coming into the profession that were underrepresented. I am now the first woman of colour to have been elected as Vice-President in the whole of Sussex!
What does IWD mean to you?
IWD means an opportunity to applaud women who have achieved and are achieving within their given industry (and day-to-day lives) despite the challenges that they face on a daily basis. It is a day to recognize, highlight and acknowledge barriers etc, a number of topics which have a some way to go for change, and some issues that are a work in progress. It presents a worldwide platform to address and inspire the next generation too.
Since you started in the legal field, have you noticed any significant changes in how women are perceived or treated in the workplace? Are there areas that still need significant improvement?
There is still a long way to go, as to equality in the workplace, and this is undergirded by the law and ever-changing policies within the UK. I believe changes come about due to the challenges that take place on the ground and in situations that are reported and sometimes not.
It is difficult to say whether there are significant changes, as it is a continuing narrative, which was almost taboo unless we shout out the odds. I believe what is important is that we have candid conversations with the decision-makers, and education is always at the fore. However, perceptions need to be challenged prior to the change and we need to be brave to ‘stand up’ for injustice too.
The legal sector is still heavily male-dominated. How do you think women can succeed in a male-dominated environment?
Again, this all depends on who is leading and empathetic within the organization etc. Who is willing to support that change and I believe that this is the reason why many women are setting up their own businesses (to include those started at home), to strike some sort of balance…
#AccelerateAction is the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day. How do you think we can contribute to accelerating gender equality in the workplace?
I believe it is about ‘honest’ conversations, empathy and accountability. This will start the motion and possibly accelerate the action. Thereafter, we plan from this point to work towards acceleration. Again, this is all dependent on the communication, leadership and breaking traditional and ignorant views…
What advice would you give to young women entering the legal profession today? How can they prepare for and navigate potential challenges?
I would also suggest that they choose a mentor who can help them navigate the profession, and there are many women I know who are willing to help the future generation in this regard. This also applies to women who are leading, seeking promotion etc. The voice of experience, I believe helps to manage expectations and the journey to success!
How do you balance the demands of your career with your personal life, and what can law firms do to better support women in achieving this balance?
The definition of balance is down to the individual, as some may enjoy being at the forefront of their career. That’s ok! However, if work challenges impede on your personal life, it’s something that must be discussed as communication is key. Also for health reasons it is key to ensure that women take stock and address the work/life balance with ‘me time’ etc.
Do you think there are particular skills or qualities that women bring to the legal industry that should be celebrated more?
Of course, some women are natural nurturers and multi-taskers. The soft skills are prevalent within the dynamics of a workspace, but it would be unfair to say that some men do not also have these skills. The skills of a lawyer are through generic training, hence we all have the same education. However, creativity springs to mind…
What would you change about the assumptions made by men of women?
Assumptions are based on experiences etc. We have social media which also portrays some positive and negative aspects, which then leads to a pre-judged perception of women. The socials and news need to be more sensitive to what is within the public domain. However, I would hope that we are a long way from the thought that women are unable to sit on a board etc.
What can men do to help achieve equality?
I believe that it starts with listening and understanding. Knowledge is power and then a plan of action. False narratives of women’s abilities and skills are easily adopted by those with hidden insecurities. I do not believe in the blame culture, but it is the culture that is to blame…
