International Women’s Day 2026 – A conversation with Lauren Wood

For International Women’s Day this year, the theme ‘Give to Gain’ is all about encouraging individuals and organisations to share knowledge, inspiration and champion each other so that women at all levels thrive.

This year, we spoke to colleagues across the firm about the experiences and insights that have shaped their careers and the support they have received along the way. Today we have Lauren Wood, solicitor in our employment & HR team, sharing her story.

Tell us a little about yourself and your role at Harrison Drury.

I joined Harrison Drury in October 2024 as a solicitor in our employment law team at our Manchester office.

I took quite a long route into law. I studied English Language and Literature at the University of Leeds and, after graduating, completed my Graduate Diploma in Law.

I joined an international law firm in Manchester as a defendant insurance paralegal, where I worked for three years. During that time, I studied for my LPC and master’s degree while continuing to work part time as a paralegal.

After that, I completed my training contract with a regional law firm and qualified in September 2023, before joining Harrison Drury the following year.

What made you want to pursue a career in law? Did you decide gradually or was there a single moment that sparked your interest?

I knew from a very young age that I wanted to pursue a career in law. My mum often reminds me that, as a little girl, I told my parents that I wanted to be a “vet or a barrister”, despite not having any vets or lawyers in the family.

I considered studying Law at university but knew that this was something I could always come back to as a postgraduate. After attending university law fairs and completing some work experience at a local high street firm, I knew that law was the career I wanted to pursue.

How can leaders ensure they are creating clear pathways that encourage career progression for women?

Having strong female role models in senior positions, actively support women in junior roles, is integral to creating clear pathways for career progression.

When you are mentored and supported by a woman in a senior leadership position, becoming a legal director or partner, for example, feels more achievable and gives you a clear goal to aspire to.

What can colleagues – of all genders – do better to support women?

Creating an inclusive professional environment requires everyday action. Colleagues of all genders can make a meaningful difference by ensuring women’s contributions are heard and properly credited, by advocating for them in work allocation and promotion discussions, and by supporting access to high-profile work.

It also means being prepared to address unhelpful comments or assumptions in a calm and professional way and reinforcing expertise when needed. These behaviours help to maintain a culture of respect.

Which women (family, famous or otherwise) have had the biggest influence on your life and career?

I am extremely lucky to come from a family of strong female role models who have been my biggest supporters throughout my life. In particular my mum. who left school with only a few GCSEs but has gone on to build a very successful career in insurance.

Growing up, this gave me someone to look up to and something to aspire to, especially as I became the first person in my immediate family to go to university.