The challenges for women lawyers in Big Law have been well chronicled across legal media cites for decades. The obstacles never seem to get significantly fewer, and some of the challenges are not likely to ever disappear. Women are the primary caretakers for their children and their elderly family members (no matter what you hear to the contrary), and women do not define themselves principally by their business accomplishments.

Everyone has an opinion, it seems. But opinions are one thing, and actual experience in the trenches are another. Bloomberg Law reporter Vivia Chen’s interview with Beth Wilkinson is straight from the trenches. Ms. Wilkinson is one of the most prominent litigators in the country today, and she has a lot to say.

Beth Wilkinson rose to fame for successfully prosecuting Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, and recently she has served as an investigator of alleged sexual misconduct within a major NFL franchise (the Washington Commanders, formerly the Washington Redskins). In between, she was a partner at Latham & Watkins and general counsel of Fannie Mae. And most recently, she left a partnership at Paul Weiss to start her own DC-based firm.

In short, Beth Wilkinson is a force to be reckoned with, and she has impressive experience in many legal sectors. Most importantly for young women lawyers, she has some interesting perspectives on women in Big Law.

There is a lot to unpack in this interview. Enjoy.