Women in the Law: A Survival Guide

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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,

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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