Accelerate Action with Julie Howard: Celebrating Inspiring Women on #IWD2025

In celebration of International Women's Day 2025, we were honoured to host a group of inspiring women from our network who shared their remarkable stories and experiences. Their insights not only highlighted the strides made but also underscored the urgency to "Accelerate Action" towards gender equality—a journey that, at the current pace, may take until 2158 to achieve.

Hear from Julie Howard, Partner at Boodle Hatfield LLP.

Can you tell us about yourself and your career journey so far? 

I originally qualified into corporate tax before switching to private client work. I have worked at a variety of firms from magic circle to boutique private client firms. I made the difficult decision to take a career break after having my second daughter and at the time was not sure how and whether I would be able to resume my career but felt it was a sacrifice worth making at that time and is one which I have never regretted. I resumed working after 2 and a half years, working initially in a non-fee earning role before joining Boodle Hatfield in 2021 and restarting my career properly.

What has been your proudest achievement so far since joining Boodle Hatfield? 

Without a doubt my proudest achievement since joining Boodle Hatfield has been being promoted to partner in April 2024, 2 and a half years after joining the firm. When on my career break I had not thought making partner would be on the horizon in the future!

What is the greatest advice you have been given? 

If you want something badly enough and work at it hard enough, you will probably get it!

Which women inspire you the most and why? 

Strong women who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in. I think Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an incredibly inspirational woman - a lawyer and then Supreme Court justice who did so much for women’s rights and juggled her career with a family.

What ways are you committed to accelerating action? (Advancing and celebrating women’s equality worldwide) 

I have given talks to school age kids about careers in law and always mention juggling this with family life. At work I think it is important to be honest with more junior members of the team about having to juggle work around parental obligations. You have to be a role model and show them that juggling needs to happen and it can work!

Do you have any advice you would give to other women starting out in the industry? 

I think it is very important when starting your career to consider how you will manage to juggle it with family life in the future. In some law firms, for example, working long hours is difficult with a family at home and key to managing that is delegation. It is all about finding the right balance for you and what is right for you, will be different for others.