Sometimes the best advice for lawyers comes from outside the profession. This is one of those times.
Recently I watched an interview on Meet The Press that resonated deeply with me and reminded me of the importance of mentoring in the legal profession. It was an interview of Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, both Olympic medalists, two of the best athletes in the world, who have recently retired from their respective sports of women’s basketball and soccer. Together they continue to bring awareness to issues of equality in women’s sports.
After responding to questions about their individual accomplishments and the effect of their role models for other women athletes, Rapinoe said, “We built something that was sturdy to stand on.” And Bird wholeheartedly agreed.
Think about that. Of course it is true that they have built remarkable legacies, but the implications of those words go far beyond their individual accomplishments. They were looking to the future and their influence on future talent.
Both Rapinoe and Bird agreed that their accomplishments and record-breaking careers will be bested and broken by women athletes in the future and that it is what they expect and hope for. Yes, expect and hope for. Their desire as role models is to see others go beyond where they have gone.
That recognition, that being at the top of your game creates a responsibility to help those who come behind you, has not always been present in the profession of law. It is unfortunate and disappointing, but it is true.
My career in the law has spanned almost five decades, and it was tough for women lawyers in the beginning. When I was starting out, there were relatively few women lawyers, and fewer women partners. Many of the women, who had made it to the partnership, were not interested in mentoring the young women behind them. They were reveling in their own recognition and the view from their perches at the top, and they were reluctant to share the limelight. That left those of us at the bottom with a dearth of mentors and feeling very lonely and exposed.
However, over the years, so many other women entered the profession, and so many have made it to the top. Although less than 25% of equity partners as women may not sound like much to you, historically it is real progress, and there are so many other women lawyers in the pipeline to increase that percentage. Women-to-women mentoring has come a long way, and there is no shortage of strong women mentors in our profession today.
And we need to keep it that way. This current trend must continue to be important for women lawyers. It needs to be a priority, and women lawyers must be willing to share their experience and expertise to build foundations for future women lawyers that “are sturdy to stand on.”
Be one of those women lawyers. As you advance in your career, look behind you and reach down a helping hand. Use the example of women athletes as your north star.
