May | 2019 | Best Friends at the Bar™

The Intersection of Motherhood and Partnership: What it Means for Women Lawyers

Posted on May 1, 2019

A recent edition of in the London-based Financial Times included a very thought-provoking article that is a must read for all women lawyers and those who lead them. The sources are both UK and US based and there is no single geographic focus.

This is not just the “same old same old” you have read in the past. Yes, the statistics will be recognizable because the percentage of women equity partners in law firms has not changed in recent history. But there is much beyond those statistics for you to chew on and some new approaches that you may or may not agree with.

The article starts by taking on a giant, specifically the Center on the Legal Profession at Harvard Law School, for the way that it frames the answer to the question, “Can you be a mother and a senior law firm partner?” The Center’s emphasis on factors that are impossible to change is disputed on the basis that it fails to recognize the impact of unconscious bias and the effect of that bias on the upward mobility of women lawyers.

The issue of quotas for women partners is also discussed in a very balanced way, giving equal time to the pros and cons of that approach. Although many women object to that kind of mandate and how it disadvantageously profiles them in the partnership, others argue that less radical approaches have proven unsuccessful. You will have to decide where you fall on that spectrum.

Also included are some practical steps that firms can take to work out the maternity leave issues with women lawyers, who demonstrate the kind of talent and leadership skills valuable at the management level, and efforts that firms can take to keep women on maternity leave functioning as part of the team during that period of time.

The role of in-house general counsel and clients in reaching a more acceptable percentage of women at the top of law firms also was discussed. This quote got my attention, “Those who until now have expected to be able to reach lawyers at any time of day or night need an understanding of what requests are urgent and what can wait until morning.” This alone evidenced a new world order!

You also will see some interesting comments on the position of salaried partners, the marginalization that often results, and the critical role of achieving diversity at the top. According to one source, “I’ve never heard of a balanced or diverse partnership underperforming.” Amen to that.

Particularly interesting to me was the emphasis in the article that the issues addressed are not just all about women. It is also about the new generation of young lawyers (millennial lawyers and the generation of lawyers to follow), who have embraced work-life balance issues that require a new approach. With the additional emphasis in my work on issues related to millennial lawyers, I applaud the recognition of the broader view of what is needed to reform our profession.

I recommend this article for you and for you to share with the leaders in your firm. The train is leaving the station, and we all need to get on board.

Young Lawyers Guide to Dealing with Stress

Posted on May 1, 2019

I read an article the other day on “Stress Free Law Practice.” I laughed out loud. There is no such thing.

Lawyers are professionals. They have a lot of responsibility, and they should anticipate stress in their work lives. From sole practitioners to law firm lawyers to in-house counsel, stress is part of the job. Stress from client expectations. Stress from managing other lawyers. Stress from making budget. Stress from the judicial process.

Even if you made widgets instead of practicing law, there would be stress. How many widgets to produce? How to make your widgets unique and competitive in the market place? Is it time for a new version of the widget — say Widget 2.0? So many widget worries.

How much stress is too much stress is another issue. Millennial lawyers know that they do not want the same degree of stress as their parent/lawyers experienced. That much stress led to illness and drug and alcohol dependencies. Young lawyers don’t want to go down that same road.

There is no way of totally eliminating stress from our work or personal lives, but there are ways of reducing the stress. So, I give credit to the article for identifying some stress reducers for lawyers. The ones I give the most value to are the following:

Write things down. I really can relate to this. When I am lying awake at night thinking of important stuff I do not want to forget, I get up, grab my phone and write myself an e-mail. Sounds crazy, but when that e-mail has been sent, I can sleep like a baby. No more worries. It will be waiting for me in the morning.
Exercise. You all know that exercise is a great stress reliever, so why are you not doing it as a routine? Because you do not have time? Pshaw! You have time to obsess over stressful things, but no time to exercise to relieve the stress. Makes no sense. Plus, you get all the extra benefits of the endorphins to make you happier.
Avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine. They are addictive. Enough said.
Enjoy the out of doors. Take a few minutes each day to get outside and breathe the fresh air. Take deep breaths. Walk a little. Stretch your legs. No back-lit screens allowed.
Focus on your accomplishments. You can count on the fact that others will find fault with you. It is human nature. Don’t you be one of them. Herald your good works. Take some time to look at your life in the rear view mirror and pat yourself on the back for all that you have accomplished. Law school was no walk in the park and neither was passing the bar. Don’t forget how far you have come. Count your blessings.
Meditate. I admit to knowing nothing about this. Never did it. But, I know others who cannot live without it. So, it is worth exploring.

Stress is a killer. Make these small changes in your life to avoid being the next victim. Start early so that the changes become habit. It is the gift you can give yourself.