Ms. JD - Changing the Face of the Legal Profession

Gendered Assumptions: They can happen to the best of us

Sarah Villanueva — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 05:04:51 +0000

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It’s election season here in Oregon. And an exciting one at that. We have three open seats between the state’s two high courts and two of those elections are contested. When you work at a large law firm during judicial elections that means you are going to get visits from the candidates. Sure, the end goal is to get the attorneys to open their checkbooks, but it is also a good time to get to meet important people who may soon be making decisions that impact you and your clients.

I am fortunate enough to know one of the candidates running for the Oregon Supreme Court and he asked me to put together a meet and greet at my firm. I was happy to help and I’ve organized many events before, so I knew it would be easy-peasy. So I did. It was a noon presentation, with lunch served. Who could turn that down? We had a great turn out and it was a great event.

Once the candidate began speaking, I took a look around the room. All of a sudden, it hit me. Out of the 22 people that showed up for the event, I was the only woman in the room. Sure, out of an office of 85 attorneys, only 18 of us are women; so really, the odds weren’t in my favor. (Those numbers are the topic of a future post....) But I had yet to be the only woman in such a crowded room at a firm event thus far, and it really struck me.

Yale Law School Faculty & Students Speak Up About Gender: Ten Years Later

Alice Shih — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:46:17 +0000

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In 2002, Yale Law Women (YLW) published Yale Law School Faculty and Students Speak About Gender: A Report on Faculty-Student Relations at Yale Law School. Expanding on several earlier YLS studies of gender dynamics during the 1980s and 1990s, the report noted progress toward gender equality within the law school, identified areas for future improvement, and started a dialogue between faculty and students about these issues.

In 2012, YLW launched Yale Law School Faculty & Students Speak Up About Gender: Ten Years Later, a follow-up report on how gender dynamics have changed at Yale Law School over the last decade. The data collection began in fall 2011 and was released this month.

This latest iteration of the Speak Up report synthesizes findings from three data sources: one-on-one hour-long interviews with 54 faculty members, observations of student participation rates in 113 class sessions in the fall of 2011, and nearly 400 anonymous student survey responses.

YLW found that men continue to participate in class more than women, at an almost 60/40 split. If the 2002-2012 rate of improvement (1.5%) continues, the gender gap in class participation at YLS will not close until 2083.

Personal Branding Corner: Is Your Pain Your Passion?

Katy Goshtasbi — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:45:57 +0000

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In personal brand development for clients, we often try to have people see that what makes us unique and develops into a great story about us is our adversities and life challenges. It is often very difficult for clients to: 1) unearth and face their life challenges and adversities and 2) be open to sharing this information with others in an effort to build connections with potential clients and employers.

As humans, we connect with people over things we have in common. That's why alumni networks and fan clubs are so popular. We also connect with people over hardships. Even if we have not suffered the exact hardship, we respect people who are brave enough to share their hardship. We also view those people as ones who have endured to live on and prosper. They give us hope for our own future.

Click HERE to read the rest.

The Weekly Round Up: Week of 5/11/2012

editor — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:18:21 +0000

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As we prepare for our annual conference, She Leads, in Washington, DC, we continue to offer you great leadership articles to help you prepare as well. This week HBR asks "Just How Powerful Are You?" Also, the Glass Hammer asks "Are Women Better Leaders?"

A big backlash against TIME for promoting the Mommy Wars based on their latest cover. Here's one take on it from MomsRising.

In other "Moms" news, Forbes releases the most powerful Moms in the world list.

In helpful job tips, seven phrases to delete from your LinkedIn profile.

It appears that Dewey & Leboeuf is collapsing. Here's yet another partner's take on why.

Are you in DC this summer? Join Ms. JD and Pros In The City for a Women Helping Women Speed Networking Event!

NY is considering requiring lawyers to do pro bono work. What do you think? Tell us in the comments!

And in case you missed it, the ABA is offering free membership for new lawyers!

Call for Submissions: IILP Review 2012: The State of Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession (Deadline May 25, 2012)

editor — Tue, 01 May 2012 03:33:58 +0000

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Highlight noteworthy diversity and inclusion efforts for the rest of the legal profession in the “IILP Review 2012: The State of Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession!”

If your law firm, law department, agency, bar association, or other organization has a particularly successful or innovative program or initiative, has published a new report, or has released the results of new research you’ve undertaken that helps advance diversity and inclusion efforts in the legal profession and you think other members of the profession would benefit from knowing about it, spread the word about your efforts! IILP is now compiling its Practice Round-Up which will be included in the “IILP Review 2012: The State of Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession” which will be published this fall. The Practice Round-Up is your chance to highlight your diversity and inclusion efforts and celebrate your successes with your colleagues around the US and abroad.

A Primer on Being the Primary Earner

Kate McGuinness — Wed, 09 May 2012 04:26:24 +0000

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Mass media has trumpeted the conclusion of a market research study that young, single, childless, white women living in cities out-earn their male counterparts. Feminists would love to embrace the results, but, in fact, the analysis has many flaws, including the failure to account for educational differences. That hasn’t stopped The New York Times from characterizing this finding as a global "trend" and predicting large scale changes in gender roles.

Despite my skepticism about these conclusions, I want to offer a bit of advice to women who are the sole or primary breadwinner in a committed relationship. As a former Biglaw partner and general counsel of a Fortune 500 company, I’ve played that role — three times.

Based on my experience and those of my second wave feminist friends, I’ve concluded the key factors in the success of such a relationship are (i) the reason for the income disparity and (ii) how the primary earner regards the reason. Are you supporting a stay-at-home dad or mom, a day-trader or a would-be novelist?

A stay-at-home parent is clearly adding value to the family. But how will you feel when you come home after a week of 16-hour days and find your struggling artist playing Mario Kart as an antidote to writer’s block? That’s something only you can decide.

Top 10 Tips to Ace a Telephone Screening: by Mardy Sackley

LateralLink — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:34:34 +0000

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You got the call. Your dream employer wants to interview you! You’re doin’ the happy dance, envisioning a face to face meeting that involves a series of interviews followed by a swanky lunch. Then they let you know – this is a telephone screen. Say what?

Lucky for job seekers everywhere, the lateral legal market is greatly improved from the dark days of 2009. Since the recession, however, employers have been forced to do more with less. Hence, the telephone screen, a cost effective way for an employer to figure out if a candidate has the basic skill set and demeanor for the position at hand before investing in a full round of interviews.

In 2012, we have seen an uptick in the number of law firms and corporations requiring a telephone screen before an in-person interview. The screen may last anywhere from ½ hour to an hour and it is generally conducted by one or two interviewers.

A half hour may not seem like a big deal. After all, what can you mess up in a short thirty minutes? Plenty, believe me. My advice to interviewees – don’t underestimate the power of the screen! Remember, the purpose of the screen is to convince the employer that you are worthy of a face-to -face meeting. If you don’t pass muster, then you will not pass go, will not collect $200 dollars, and will not get the opportunity for a face-to-face meeting.

Best Friends at the Bar: A Reminder of the Power of Mentoring

Susan Smith Blakely — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 16:16:54 +0000

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Editor's Note: This post originally appeared on the Best Friends at the Bar blog on September 9, 2011.

Well, here I am, back after a wonderful summer respite full of time with old friends, new friends and family. I have survived an earthquake, a hurricane and flash floods here on the East Coast, and I am renewed and ready to concentrate again on my projects for young women lawyers.

There are lots of new things on the horizon for me, like a newly-designed web site, a new book, a new research assistant, and an exciting new schedule for the coming work/school year. Don’t forget to remind your schools and law firms about my programs, and check out the web site for a list of my appearances.

However, as with all things new, there are challenges, and I am feeling some of those challenges these days. Once upon a time I worked for law firms, and I had lots of “people” addressing lots of “stuff” that I, therefore, did not have to address. Stuff like marketing, web sites, press and public relations, strategic plans, and the list goes on. Then came my days as an entrepreneur, and now I am the chief cook and bottle washer for my business, and most of the time I feel like a one-armed paper hanger!

Yale Law Study Insights on Classroom Dynamics

Alice Shih — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:37:39 +0000

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This is the second post in a series about Yale Law Women’s study, Yale Law School Faculty & Students Speak Up About Gender: Ten Years Later. One of three major data collection methods was observing 113 class sessions in 21 Yale Law courses for three one-week periods in September, October, and November 2011. The study recorded the gender of the professor, gender of the speaker, whether it was an initial or subsequent participation, and the origin of the contribution (called on, volunteered, offered a question or comment without professor prompt, interrupted professor or classmate). A total of 2,934 participation events were recorded. This classroom monitoring showed three major findings.

Supporting State Efforts to End Violence Against Women: Unconstitutional?

nwlc — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:53:02 +0000

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By Emily Martin, Vice President and General Counsel

Last week, the Senate voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act by a bipartisan vote, an important step forward for the many thousands of women who depend on its protections. But before we forget the Senate debate, we should note not only the surprising resistance the bill met there, but also the specific basis Mike Lee (R-Utah) offered for opposing it. Senator Lee, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee and whose views on the Constitution are thus particularly influential, implied that VAWA was unconstitutional.

Senator Lee objected to VAWA’s grants to state and local governments. VAWA provides funding for programs operated by courts, law enforcement, state agencies, local governments, and others, in order to address the needs of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. In general, recipients must apply to receive these funds. Senator Lee asserted that somehow providing this funding to the state and local governments seeking it compromises states’ rights under the Constitution, because violent crime is regulated primarily by the states. “As a matter of constitutional policy,” Senator Lee stated, “Congress should not seek to impose rules and standards as conditions for federal funding in areas where the federal government lacks constitutional authority to regulate directly.” He also protested that “the strings that Congress attaches to federal funding in the VAWA reauthorization restrict each state’s ability to govern itself.”

State Department Part IV: Civilian Response Corps

Ms. JD International — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:00:20 +0000

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Interested in working abroad but only for a short period of time? Are you working at a federal agency as a lawyer or hold a JD degree and want to use your legal skills for projects abroad? Interested in gaining field experience in rule of law and judicial reform? The Civilian Response Corps may be an excellent opportunity for you.

Lawyers in the federal government have an opportunity to work in the international sector through the State Department’s Civilian Response Corps (CRC). The CRC is operated by the State Department’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) and is composed of federal workers who employ their expertise to help restore stability in fragile states. The CRC’s purpose is to provide rapid deployment of subject-matter experts to support conflict prevention and stabilization in countries in crisis or emerging from conflict.

Breakfast With Tiffany...

Nancy Glazer — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:30:26 +0000

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You may recall reading the clever blogs of Tiffany Farber, one of my co-bloggers from Law Bulletin Publishing’s former series, Attorneys in Transition. Tiffany is the one who boldly told us all about her life and attitudes in transition, never sounding pouty or feeling entitled that the world owed her more than she received. You may recall Tiffany’s blogs, full of energy after rolling up her sleeves, shutting down her laptop and taking it to the pavement.

In fact, when Tiffany’s staff attorney/pro bono coordinator position was eliminated from a small Chicago non-profit, she did some soul searching, as anyone would. She pulled together an elevator speech, she went out and met people, and she followed up with them too. Tiffany also reminded herself that, in addition to being an attorney, she also had a full life as a fiancé (now wife), daughter, sister and friend.

Not only did Tiffany bravely start to build her own practice a few years back, she also took it upon herself to learn new areas of law. She joined groups for solo practitioners where she could listen to others’ challenges, learn, and give back. Soon enough, she found herself coaching other attorneys in transition, wanting them to benefit from her learning curve. She started writing blogs for Attorneys in Transition so that we, her readers, could find comfort from her and nod our heads with total understanding – and root her on!

The Healthy Lawyer: Perinatal Depression

riazmaeda — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:38:28 +0000

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My Trip to Sacramento

I recently spent a memorable day at the California State Capitol attending a press conference, expert panel discussion, and visit to legislators’ offices on the topic of maternal mental health. May is National Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month, or as it’s known in my home state of California, Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Month.

Approximately 15 to 20 percent of all women experience some form of pregnancy-related depression or anxiety. I was surprised to learn that untreated depression is the number one complication of pregnancy, more so than gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia. In the United States, pregnant women are commonly tested for gestational diabetes, which affects approximately one to two percent of pregnant women. Unfortunately, there is no uniform screening done for perinatal depression.

What is Perinatal Depression?

Like many people, I had heard of postpartum depression, but I had never heard of perinatal depression. Postpartum depression occurs after delivery whereas perinatal depression can occur during pregnancy and up to 12 months after a mother gives birth.

Perinatal mood disorders can include anxiety, depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and in rare instances, postpartum psychosis. Postpartum psychosis occurs in approximately 1 to 2 out of every 1000 deliveries, or about .1 percent and can include delusions and irrational thoughts.

More common, affecting around 80 percent of mothers, is what’s commonly known as the “baby blues,” which includes temporary feelings of sadness and weepiness during the first few weeks after giving birth.

Advice for Landing Your First Legal Job

jlucashuk — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:36:28 +0000

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We all know how difficult it is to find a job today and no one has been hit harder in this economy than recent graduates. However, while landing your first legal job may require hard work, it is not impossible. Here is some advice for making it a little easier.

Make sure you have what employers want

While you are still in law school, make sure you obtain the skills and experience employers are looking for. One of the best ways of finding out what kinds of skills and experience employers want is by reviewing postings for entry level legal jobs. These job postings will give you an idea of where the demand is in the legal market. Once you know where the demand is, you should make sure that you take classes and obtain internships that will give you experience and teach you the skills necessary to land those jobs.

Through Feminist Lenses: Ringing up the Bill?

Beth — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:25:32 +0000

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One of my professors loved nothing more than explaining to the class an incredibly tedious bit of lawyering or a particularly epic story of cat-and-mouse attorneys, stopping after his explanation, taking a breath, and saying with a grin, “And that, my friends, is how you’ll pay your bills."

This was always a sure bet for a class-wide chuckle (though admittedly the bar for humor in a law school lecture hall is set at about the barest minimum possible), and it’s true, it was always funny in context. But something always bothered me about the comment -- was it the cavalier attitude to ringing up someone’s legal bill? Was it the failure to question why an aspect of law was so inefficient? Was it the lack of recognition that these kinds of lawyering games are precisely why legal services are unaffordable for so many people?

On one hand, I think it was all of these things and then some. The professor’s comments clearly were from the view of deep-pocketed corporate counsel, with the ability to pay the billed hours generated by the attorney, not the legal aid attorney who is trying to handle a large number of cases, and even less from the viewpoint of that indigent client him or herself. In these settings, inefficient law is not simply a way for the toiling attorney to earn a nice-sized salary, but a barrier to legal access.