1. 800. 973.1177
CAREER COUNSELOR’S CORNER
Women in the Law: A Survival Guide [Dimitra Kessenides] A dozen essential ideas for making the most of your career.
Yes, women have made great strides in the
you’ll be less likely to be thrown by them.
legal profession, and, yes, serious problems
“It’s not great to start out feeling like a victim
remain. The bar is still dominated by men (58
or with a chip on your shoulder,” she says.
percent of associates and staff attorneys at
“But you do want to take charge of your life.
U.S. firms are male). Women remain badly
Just don’t be pugnacious about it; be con-
3. Seek mentors. One of the best ways to get where you want to go in your career is to partner with the women who have gone before you, says Angela Bradstreet, a partner at San Francisco’s
underrepresented in positions of leadership
structive. And have a sense of humor.”
Carroll, Burdick & McDonough and a former
(just 16 percent of partners at major law firms are women). And while women have
president of the California Women Lawyers
2. Organize. Whatever you set out to achieve, you’ll be more likely to accomplish it if you join forces with other women. “There are still too many things in common and too many barriers to overcome to give up the help of one
association. Look around and identify people
Carping about these problems is natural
another,” says Madge Thorsen, a partner
through the regular course of your work,
enough -- and healthy to a point. Ultimately,
at Minneapolis’s Kelly & Berens and the
terrific. If not, don’t be afraid to approach
though, women want solutions. To help, JD
first woman president of the University of
someone. Tell her that you admire her work
Jungle asked veteran woman lawyers to
Minnesota’s Minnesota Law Review. Start or
and are interested in learning from her,
share their secrets of career success. None
join a women’s committee at your firm. You
then offer to help, say, research a case she’s
of the proposals is a panacea (the prob-
don’t have to run the group like a military
working on. Having a mentor who takes you
lems woman lawyers face are complex, and
unit, but set goals and seek to attain them.
to lunch to chat about your career develop-
there’s no such thing as a quick fix), and not
“It’s emotionally helpful to talk about is-
ment is fine, but having a mentor who can
every piece of advice will appeal to everyone
sues and problems,” says Thorsen. “But it’s
teach you concrete lawyering skills is better,
(some of the ideas flat-out contradict one
more fulfilling to focus on innovations that
says Bradstreet. “Women need women
another). But the goal here isn’t to offer a
produce results.” Don’t limit your group to
who can teach them to do the work, as well
prescription. It’s to arm women with a range
like-minded women at your own firm. Include
as the tools of rainmaking,” she says. If a
of options to consider as they seek to negoti-
guest speakers-women from other law firms
mentor relationship isn’t working out, look
ate what remains, for now at least, an uneven
or from businesses recognized as excellent
for someone else. For that matter, don’t
playing field. Needless to say, every edge
places for women to work. Invite leaders of
be afraid to have multiple mentors. Again,
counts.
women’s business organizations or other
consider looking outside the firm. And keep
women’s groups to speak. Meet with the
in mind that your mentor doesn’t even have
managing partner of a firm that’s made posi-
to be an attorney: Need help with presenta-
tive changes for women. And don’t exclude
tion skills? Approach a communications pro
the men at your firm-they can be a great
who’s friends with your mother. In the end,
resource and help you in your efforts. “If
what you’re trying to assemble is your own
what women need are ways to succeed and
personal board of advisers.
just as many professional demands to shoulder as men do, it is still the case that they handle most of the child rearing, housekeeping, and other domestic duties.
1. Know what you’re getting into. As a woman, it’s important to recognize right away that you’ll face unique challenges, says Barbara Robinson, the first woman to become a partner at New York’s Debevoise & Plimpton and the only woman to have served as president of the New York City bar association. It may sound obvious, says Robinson, but if you simply expect to face obstacles,
PAGE 1
whose careers you admire. Want to be an M&A lawyer doing billion-dollar deals? Seek out someone who does just that. Want to defend indigent women pro bono? Ditto. If you develop a mentor-mentee relationship
develop,” says Thorsen, “they’ll need to tap into different groups of people who can help make this happen.”
4. Make change. Even at relatively progressive firms, change comes slowly. Be prepared to fight for what
continued on back
1.800. 973. 1177
CAREER COUNSELOR’S CORNER
you want no matter what obstacles you en-
with, log the long hours, and so on. Then be
counter, says Cynthia Calvert, an employment
sure you’re perceived as a star. “Your col-
7. Consider an all-woman firm. A woman-friendly firm not good enough for
lawyer and a co-director of the Washington,
leagues and clients have to see you in action,
you? How about an all-woman or woman-
D.C.-based Project for Attorney Retention.
because women often aren’t accepted at face
owned firm? A growing number of such shops
What are the most effective ways to make
value the way men are,” says Rohan.
is cropping up around the country. Mostly boutique firms, they cover all areas of the
change? First, choose your priorities. No one
law, from white-collar crime and civil litiga-
primary issues and focus on those. Let’s say
6. Try a woman-friendly firm. For some women, it’s simply too demand-
your firm doesn’t have a flexible work policy
ing to reform an institution and work 100
tion. “I’ve practiced with men partners in the
and you want to make that a top priority.
hours per week. Fortunately, there are firms
past for many years, and some of the issues
Above all else, you’ll have to present man-
that have already established themselves as
that arise in situations where a partner-
agement with a compelling business reason
woman-friendly. To assess a firm for yourself,
ship is predominantly male just don’t arise
for the firm to adopt such a policy. “It’s a
says Sheryl Willert, a lawyer at Seattle’s Wil-
at all-women firms,” says Renée Livingston,
weak position to start out from your own
liams, Kastner & Gibbs and the first woman
a founder of Livingston Tate, an all-woman
self-interest,” says Calvert. “Instead, focus
president of the Defense Research Institute, a
law firm in Walnut Creek, California, special-
on management’s interests-business issues
national association of lawyers involved in civil
izing in civil torts. If a woman needs to come
and the bottom line.” Present statistics on
litigation defense, find out how many woman
in late or work from home because a child is
what attrition costs the firm per lawyer. Show
attorneys the firm employs-both overall and
sick, for example, woman partners are often
how reducing attrition saves money, keeps
in leadership positions. (NALP’s Directory of
more understanding and more willing to allow
clients happy, and attracts better talent. Get
Legal Employers gives demographic informa-
for flexible schedules. All-woman firms also
hold of model policies that are known to work
tion for each of the firms listed. NALP also
tend to be less cutthroat, says Livingston,
and share them with management. Ask col-
compiles annual statistics on women and
and women don’t have to prove themselves to
leagues at other firms to share their policies
attorneys of color at law firms; and Vault’s an-
men. And because most all-woman firms are
or contact the American Bar Association’s
nual ranking of the top 100 law firms nation-
small, lawyers often get more responsibility
Commission on Women in the Profession and
ally includes a breakout list of the top three
and more training faster than they would at a
the National Association for Law Placement
firms for women.) Ask if the firm has specific
large firm. Of course, being in an all-woman
(NALP) for relevant resources. Whatever
programs to recruit, train, and develop woman
law firm has its drawbacks too. Some found-
issues you choose to pursue, involve people
lawyers. Find out what flexible work policies
ers of all-woman firms say they had less
from various levels of the firm-especially de-
the firm offers. Speak to woman lawyers who
credibility at the beginning with vendors such
cision makers-as soon as you can. The more
work at the firm and ask them what they like-
as banks and often had to rely on a women’s
people you bring into the loop, and the faster
and don’t like-about it. “In the past two years
network to get business done. It’s also impor-
you bring them in, the more apt you’ll be to
these questions have come up more and more
tant to remember that working for a women’s
build consensus. Remember, says Calvert: “A
in interviews, and students want to meet with
firm means working for a small firm-no big-
law firm is a partnership, and you’ll need con-
women associates and partners,” says Joanne
firm salary or prestige. A good place to begin
sensus to help you implement a new policy.
DeZego, the manager of legal recruiting at
researching women’s firms is in the National
It’ll get put into practice that much faster if
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy in New York.
Association of Women Lawyers’ National
you have buy-in.”
“Women-and men-are thinking more long-
Directory of Women-Owned Law Firms and
term about their careers and where they want
Women Lawyers. As you shop for a firm, says
5. Be a great lawyer. One of the best things you can do to bring
to be. The lifestyle a firm offers them is a big
Livingston, weigh quality as much as gender.
deal today.” That said, there’s a right way and
“That my partner was a woman was not why I
about change is to be a first-rate attorney,
a wrong way to ask. Don’t be accusatory and
went into business with her,” says Livingston.
says Audrey Rohan, a corporate partner at
put lawyers on the defensive, says DeZego.
“She was an excellent lawyer. That she is a
New York’s Loeb & Loeb. “Law firms value
Be inquisitive, but professional. Also, DeZego
woman is a positive.”
talent, and if you can get the work done and
advises, even if you’re in your twenties with no
make clients happy, you can often find ways
children and willing to devote yourself to work
to have more flexibility,” she says. Do all the
now, there might be a time in the future when
8. Go in-house. If you decide the megahours environment of
things that make an attorney stand out: Take
taking advantage of a maternity or part-time
law firm work just isn’t right for you, consider
on assignments eagerly, exceed partners’
policy will be important to you. So don’t be
becoming an in-house attorney. The work is
and clients’ expectations, be pleasant to work
shortsighted.
far from easy, but it can be less intense, says
can do 10 things at once, so pick one or two
PAGE 2
tion to estate planning and dispute resolu-
continued
1.800. 973. 1177
CAREER COUNSELOR’S CORNER
Gina DeConcini, tax director at the Minneapo-
responsibilities, from lobbying UN delegates
Other women, meanwhile, choose not to put
lis accounting firm Lurie Besikof Lapidus &
on an AIDS resolution to taking part in Senate
work first. After Stephanie Martz, a part-time
Company and a former senior manager at the
Judiciary Committee hearings. In her first
senior associate in the Washington, D.C.,
Minneapolis office of Deloitte & Touche. Many
job, as a fellow at the Center for Reproductive
office of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, gave
companies, especially large, high-profile
Rights, says Stemple, “I worked on everything
birth to her son, Kyle, in September 2001, her
firms, are more progressive than many law
from AIDS in Africa to the global gag rule. It
priorities shifted. “Work has never been my
firms in terms of hiring women, and they often
was hugely varied.” Jobs that directly have
animating passion, although there is a lot I
have well-defined pro-woman employment
an impact on women aren’t easy to find, and
like about working in a law firm,” she says.
policies in place. Going in-house can also
they rarely pay as well as big law firm jobs (as
Remember: The partnership track isn’t the
mean working for a company whose business-
a compromise, some women do woman- ori-
only option; many firms now have “counsel”
accounting, genetic engineering, or whatever-
ented pro bono work at a firm). But working
positions or two-tier partnership levels that
you find interesting, and it can give you an
for a small nonprofit also offers opportunities
offer flexibility in balancing work and personal
opportunity to develop a specialty (DeConcini
for immediate responsibility and leadership
life. Martz, for example, returned to work
graduated from law school with a focus on
that larger law firms don’t typically provide. At
after four-plus months’ maternity leave (she
tax law and joined Deloitte right after that).
Stop Prisoner Rape, Stemple sets the group’s
worked in the Washington, D.C., office of
Working for a large company has particular
agenda, manages the staff, raises funds, and
Baker Botts at the time) and decided to look
benefits, says DeConcini: Because she started
oversees the publicity work. In other words,
for a part-time arrangement at a firm with a
her career as the mother of young twins, DeC-
she runs the show. At the end of the day,
greater commitment to part-time schedules.
oncini needed flexibility. “I had the perception
though, what makes the work attractive to
Mayer, Brown fit the bill. She also shifted her
that if I went to a smaller environment, I’d be
Stemple is this: “You’re making a difference.”
practice focus from trial litigation to appellate brief writing, which she considered more
more missed at times when I couldn’t be in the office,” she says.
10. Put work first. For some women, the way to handle “the
manageable. “I realize there will be times
9. Consider ‘women’s work’. For some women, working on so-called
woman problem” is, in a sense, not to. Under
ance, my family comes first,” she says. And
this view, law firms are what they are, and the
ramping down doesn’t have to mean trading in
women’s issues provides a unique sense of
best way to thrive at one is simply to meet its
job satisfaction. “I enjoy what I’m doing, and
career fulfillment. “When I first started to
demands. The billable hour and client service
I have the respect of my colleagues and cli-
work on women’s issues, that was like a light-
are king at big firms, and that’s not going to
ents,” says Martz. “That’s what’s important to
bulb for me,” says Lara Stemple, the executive
change, says Erica Steinberger, a partner
me.” Eventually, Martz hopes to make partner
director of Stop Prisoner Rape, a Los Angeles-
at the New York office of Latham & Watkins.
or counsel. “But I’m not going to set arbitrary
based nonprofit organization that works to
Because of this, you’ll have to work tremen-
deadlines for achieving that,” she says.
end sexual violence in jails. “I felt that the lack
dously hard. If that means making sacrifices
of equality for women was so egregious in so
in other areas of your life, says Steinberger,
many places that you could have a meaningful
that may be a price you have to pay. For ex-
12. Give yourself a break. Finally, recognize that there’s no perfect
career working on just that.” Some women ob-
ample, she says: “The more you can focus the
career solution. Life is full of choices, each
ject to the term women’s work because, they
first few years on learning, the better off you’ll
of which entails sacrifice. You want to be a
say, it pigeonholes women. But Stemple says
be. Understand that if you can put off having
partner someday? You may have to push for
that working on issues germane to women can
a family until after you’re a partner, it might
more high-profile assignments for woman
be singularly satisfying. “The injustices are
be easier.” Whether you choose to place work
lawyers and forfeit something in your personal
pretty severe, and there are clear victories
above other priorities, of course, is up to you,
life. Want to start a family and not work killer
to be won.” Women’s work can extend from
but the point is, it’s an option. Men have never
hours? You may have to fight to establish
issues of domestic violence to political rights
had to apologize for making their careers
part-time, flex-time, or job-sharing opportu-
to international labor issues. In addition to
their number-one pursuit, says Steinberger.
nities at your firm-or change jobs. Whatever
working at Stop Prisoner Rape, for example,
“If you’re prepared to live the lifestyle and
you choose to do, says Mary Cranston, the
Stemple has worked at nonprofits such as the
basically make work the priority for a couple
chairperson at San Francisco- and New York-
Center for Reproductive Rights in New York
of years, you shouldn’t have to either.”
based Pillsbury Winthrop, “you’ll always feel that you’re neglecting one thing or another in
and the Pacific Institute for Women’s Health in Los Angeles. The jobs offered a wide range of
PAGE 3
when work will be a top priority, but on bal-
11. Put work second.
your life.” Don’t use that as an excuse to stay
continued on back
CAREER COUNSELOR’S CORNER
in a bad situation. If you’re unhappy, make changes. But don’t beat yourself up if your life isn’t 100 percent picture-perfect either. “The key is to have some perspective and not to take anything too seriously,” says Cranston. Trying to do it all can be a trap for women. Instead, she says, “have some flexibility of mind, then decide what’s most important to you and do those things.”
Additional reporting by Renee Kaplan.
PAGE 4
1.800. 973. 1177