Article January 1, 2001 ISSUE

Valia Damala

Lawyer

with contributions from Valia Damala—Athens, Greece

Since childhood, I had a deep desire to understand justice. I wanted to offer my abilities so that justice could prevail for other people. Also, there was a tradition of men who were lawyers in the family.

In the 1960s, my country suffered from the results of a civil war that followed the end of the Second World War and lasted a couple of years. The quest for justice, therefore, was something that prevailed in our society. So I decided to study law at a university in Central Europe.

Then I had my first disappointment in the law. My philosophy of law professor said that law is not an exact science but rather, a human creation. It might be right, but it also might not be. He said there is no unshakeable basis for the concept of justice. So I added to my studies other courses that would lead me to truth — philosophy, psychology, history of art, and literature.

After completing my studies, I returned to Greece and started my career in law. I had no particular problems because of being a woman. Besides, there is a tradition of women in law in Greece.

However, I began to have problems about the way law is practiced. I wondered if, by winning a client's case, I was not actually becoming a bearer of injustice to the other side.

At this stage, I got to know Christian Science, which changed my life. The concept of justice that I wanted, I found in the unalterable and eternal spiritual laws of God.

After a few years and a lot of prayer, I decided not to be a courtroom lawyer any longer. So I offered my services to a large industrial company dealing with international commerce. In this new position, which lasted around twenty years, I had recognition and respect. There were problems, but not because I was a woman. And help came through prayer in Christian Science.

I have a husband and daughter. It's not always easy to have a responsible job when you have a family. I'm fortunate that my husband is also a Christian Scientist. So we have helped each other both spiritually and practically.

After many years with my company, a very unfair situation cropped up. My husband and I prayed to know that there is always harmony in God — there is nothing beyond God's truth and justice. I tried not to feel any hostility. On the contrary, I felt love and respect for everyone. The result was that I ran into someone in the office, quite by chance, who was a managing director of the company. He recognized on his own that the company had been wrong, and apologized to me.

As far as Greek law is concerned, there is full equality between men and women. In practice, however, there are instances of inequality. Women are not easily promoted to top management positions. Salary differences exist as well. There are higher rates of unemployment for women. All this, in spite of the fact that there is, in Greece, a Secretariat for Equality who tries to wipe out inequalities.

I believe in equality between men and women and have dedicated my life to this kind of justice. Understanding between the sexes will come only as people realize their true spiritual identity as God's children.

The respect I've had over the years came, not because I was a lawyer or because I was a woman. It was because I realized that I had certain innate spiritual qualities. And these qualities are what helped me.

About the author

Valia Damala is a Lawyer and Christian Science Committee on Publication Athens, Greece.

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