Being a woman lawyer still presents challenges — even in 2024. And being a lawyer/mother ups the ante on those challenges. But, consider how much harder it must be for lawyer/mothers of special needs children.
I recently read an article that addressed those challenges in a way that especially resonated with me. The title is “Balancing Lawyering and Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation — A Woman’s Perspective.” As the second article in a series, it focused on tips for lawyering and parenting a special needs child.
Even if you do not have to struggle with issues related to caretaking for a special needs child, I encourage you to read the article because of the good, solid practical advice about trying to balance your personal life with your professional life.
In this article, you will not read complaints and testimonials from young women lawyers, who believe that the challenges for lawyer/mothers is the responsibility of employers to solve. You will not read about lawyer/mothers, who believe that they are entitled to work only between 9 and 5 with no further responsibilities after 5 at night and until 9 the next morning. You will not read complaints that make you wonder whether those women lawyers understand that the practice of law is a personal services business with the emphasis on client service — because that is the way the profession of law works.
To be clear, I understand the challenges that women lawyers face, but I am confident that women lawyers, including lawyer/mothers, can overcome their challenges without relying completely on others to come to their rescue. To do that, women lawyers need to be realistic about their responsibilities and know how to take the long view. They need to access help when they need it to fashion good solutions. They especially need to remember and respect that they are women — and women have always leaned into the issues and relied on their remarkable flexibility and talent for problem solving.
Don’t get me wrong. This kind of advocacy from women lawyers does not relieve employers from the responsibility of working with women lawyers toward more flexible schedules and other solutions to make caretaking and lawyering more compatible. Meeting those challenges will require communication and cooperation and a recognition that both the women lawyers and the law firms have reasonable concerns.
This article includes the kind of advice that helps young lawyers persevere and take tremendous pride in their accomplishments. It is the same kind of advice that you will find in my books for women lawyers and is at the core of my many speeches to law schools, law firms and law organizations, and it represents the essence of the Best Friends at the Bar program.
Here’s an excerpt from the article:
By embracing flexibility, building a solid support network, prioritizing self-care, advocating for us and our children, delegating tasks, seeking professional guidance, and staying committed to our goals, we can thrive both in and outside our careers. Finally, also remember that our dedication and strength also make us role models for other women navigating similar challenges, which can prove both rewarding and encouraging as we continue to navigate our own paths.
Now, that makes a lot of sense.
