Thought For The Day

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Thought For The Day

“You’re only responsible for being honest, not for someone else’s reaction to your honesty.”

Kelli Jae Baeli

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Queen Bees Continue to Deliver the Sting

Is this all hype about the Queen Bees Syndrome or a continuing problem?  Is it old news and something that I and others should stop talking about?  Good questions and ones I hear from time to time.

In a recent article on Forbes on line, “The Queen Bees Sting Keeps Women from Getting to the Top,” it seems clear that the Queen Bees are not a thing of the past.  Although the article is not specific to the behavior of women lawyers, there is a lot of information there that addresses women in law and needs your attention.

I often refer to the quote from former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, “There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women.”  It addresses a sentiment at the heart of the Best Friends at the Bar program, and the quote also is included in the Forbes article.  Regrettably, we still have a lot of women at the top of the legal profession who don’t get it.  As the Forbes article points out, they are like the mean girls in middle school but with “the professional experience and network to hold onto her high-power crown at the expense of others.”

The article also includes these words from a young law woman lawyer:

 “When I was starting out, I wanted to be influential, develop my voice and make an impact. I recognized the importance of building relationships with senior women but had trouble gaining buy-in from some in the legal profession. I didn’t understand why I felt this tension, especially because I was able to line up strong female sponsors who were in other professions. I asked an accomplished woman to offer her perspective. She told me that some women believe there is only one seat at the boardroom table for a woman, making them reluctant to embrace each other. Some adopt a scarcity mentality, believing that another’s win is their loss, instead of an abundance mentality, realizing there are plenty of opportunities for everyone.”

So, even when you young women are giving it all you can and “leaning in” to the best of your abilities, some women at the top are not reaching out helping hands.  For me, that is the the lowest common denominator of the worst kind of female leadership. It is indefensible, and it results in many young women leaving the practice and is a blocking  mechanism for those women who stay and are trying to break through to advance to partnership and positions of leadership in their firms.

And this bad behavior does not match the research.  It is established that organizations are enriched by diversity at the top, as I have written about and spoken about from the beginning of the Best Friends at the Bar program. I wrote about it again in my new book for law firm leaders.

But, it is still a tough sell in our profession. It is why I keep writing and speaking, and it is why I ask you to help spread the messages of Best Friends at the Bar.  Although women are not the only ones keeping us down in the profession, they may be the ones we can affect the most. 

Help me do that.  Forward the messages.  Keep young women informed and let them know that help is available.  Help all women in our profession understand the difference between good and bad behavior.

Women will rise together in our profession, and each of us needs to do our part.  Start today!

Career Counselors, Law Firm Managers, Law School Educators, Law Students, Practice Advice, Pre-law, Young Lawyer | Comment

Thought For The Day

“There’s plenty of room in the world for mediocre men. There is no room for mediocre women. And so you have to lead.”

The Honorable Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State, playing herself on a recent episode of CBS’ Madam Secretary.

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The “New Law’ Models Present Great Possibilities for Women Lawyers

I am excited about the “new law” models and what they may mean to many of you.  By new law I mean law practices without walls — virtual, if you will — that present new possibilities for  experienced lawyers who cannot or do not choose to commit to full-time traditional practices but want to stretch their lawyer brains and continue in the profession.   These models advertise high quality legal services at cost effective rates made possible by lowering overhead costs, eliminating traditional salary structures, forgoing benefits that many attorneys do not need, and offering creative fee arrangements that clients are demanding and flexibility for the lawyers.  They market their services as free from the  pyramids and competitive environments that plague traditional law firms and consider themselves the law firm models of the future.

These new models, that are represented by groups like NewLAWu.s., Potomac Law Group, Axiom, Fisherbroyles VLP Law LLP  and Rimon in the US and Keystone in the UK, are examples of innovative thinking by founders who see real flaws in the traditional system of delivery of legal services. Check out their websites and try them on for size.

My attention to these new models has been piqued lately.  Last week, I attended a presentation by NewLAWu.s. at Columbia University Law in NYC, and, later that evening, I facilitated a discussion about the future of law practice at a dinner hosted by NewLAWu.s.  I found the new law concepts both interesting and challenging.  The flexibility and lower billable hour rates appeal to me, but I am a bit concerned about how the work comes in.  What happens if the “key man,” who has founded the group and represents the rainmaker, gets hit by a bus?  Really, think about it.  It seems to me that the challenge for developing work never changes.  Even in the new law concept.  The firm must be diversified enough to have a variety of rainmakers or there will be a serious drought.  I also know that working virtually does not work for everyone.  Even though these new models stress the team approach, I believe that remains to be seen.

I had the rare opportunity to sit down and discuss several of these models early on when they were being developed.  The founders recognized what they thought was a good fit for the goals of the Best Friends at the Bar program, and they sought out my reactions to their new models.  As a result, I have been in the cat bird’s seat to see some of the models develop.  So far, I am encouraged by what I see. 

So, put on your innovator’s hat and keep an open mind.  Be prepared to adjust your thinking and be open to new possibilities.  Also keep your critical-thinking hat handy.  There are still a lot of wrinkles that need to be worked out of the new models.  But they are worthy of your consideration and present new possibilities about what it means to be “successful” as a lawyer.  The Personal Definitions of Success that I stress in the Best Friends at the Bar program are very important to that discussion.

Two of the new law models, NewLAWu.s. and Potomac Law Group are sponsors for my Book Launch Event later this month.  They join a group of impressive traditional law firm sponsors in their enthusiasm for Best Friends at the Bar.  Proof positive that there is more than enough room for everyone!

 

Career Counselors, Law School Educators, Law Students, Lifestyle, Practice Advice, Young Lawyer | Comment

Thought For The Day

“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”

Buddha

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Thought For The Day

“Your truest friends are the ones who will stand by you in your darkest moments-because they’re willing to brave the shadows with you-and in your greatest moments-because they’re not afraid to let you shine.”

Nicole Yatsonsky

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Women Lawyers Should Not Be Too Busy for Friendships

Time is the enemy.  How many “times” have I heard that — or written it.  It is true.  In a business like law, especially private practice where most of you bill by the hour, time is indeed important and controlling.  The more you bill, the more valuable you are to the law firm — or so the theory goes.  There are many other characteristics and skills that should make you valuable to a law firm, but don’t try to advance them over the value of your time.  It is a losing battle.

So, the tendency is for you to work, work, work and avoid the sweet little pleasures that life has to offer.  Like friends.  You think you can do it later, or you can’t justify the time for that cup of coffee, glass of wine or walk in the park with a friend.

However, friendships can be fleeting, and you have to tend them.  You do not want to learn the hard way and become the star performer at the office with no one special in your personal life.

I have been thinking about this a lot since I returned from my college reunion in late September.  The graduating classes of the 60’s from my sorority gathered on the shores of Lake Mendota at the University of Wisconsin to renew old friendships, make new ones and trip down Memory Lane.  Yes, I said ’60’s and please do not do the math!

Almost 60 women gathered there.  What I found was that the friends I gravitated to when I was a college student were not necessarily the ones I gravitate to now.  Lives change.  Experiences and interests change.  What mattered about friendships then may not be the same things that matter as much now.  And, that is the gift that keeps on giving.  I am now rich in friendships from the past and also rich in new friendships.  They all matter, and the combination adds layers to my life that I love and cherish.

I came home from four days of back-to-back events to a desk full of To Do lists and hundreds of unanswered e-mails.  But, it was worth it.  I returned with wonderful memories, old friendships that still fit like gloves and new friendships with interesting possibilities.  For me, it was well worth the trip and the time. 

I hope it works out that way for you.  You won’t know until you try it!

Career Counselors, Law Students, Lifestyle, Practice Advice, Pre-law, Young Lawyer | Comment