As I prepare my remarks and slides for a program I am presenting to a law firm Women’s Initiative in Dallas next week, I am reminded that women lawyers are often skeptical of joining women’s affinity groups. Although I would like to see all women lawyers benefit from what an effective Women’s Initiative can offer, I understand the reluctance. It is time away from billable hours, and many of these initiatives are nothing more than gripe sessions that creative negative rather than positive energy.
To assuage your concerns and hear from another woman lawyer on this subject, I recommend that you read this article. The author learned to appreciate the real value of professional women’s affinity groups, and I think you will, too. However, I hope you start a little earlier in your career so that you do not lose valuable time to enhance your career in every possible way. And by doing so, I hope that you will avoid the feelings of isolation the author experienced after starting a family and understanding the “harsh realities” of the work-life struggle for women lawyers.
Here is more of what the author learned:
- It takes more than hard work to become a successful woman lawyer;
- Women’s professional affinity groups can work for you by providing skills training, effective mentoring, valued career strategies for self-promotion and effective networking, all of which enhanced her law practice;
- The leadership opportunities available through these groups are invaluable to career advancement; and
- The need for an effective Women’s Initiative within the law firm — which she started!
As you will note, the author came to appreciate and value professional women’s affinity groups through her experience at her local Women’s Bar Association. Those groups are very important to your career as well, and I have been involved in mine, the DC Women’s Bar Association, since I graduated from law school. I volunteer my time there with Best Friends at the Bar programs, including a book talk I will present there in December. These groups widen your horizons and provide a broad network of women lawyers who are faced with the same challenges you experience throughout your career.
My best advice to you is to pursue a Women’s Initiative in your law firm and mentorship programs in your Women’s Bar Association as early as possible. If you are not impressed with the quality of the programs, volunteer to make them better!
Also, check out my multi-session program to support law firm women’s initiatives. Here is an overview of the sessions:
- Developing Effective Leaders to Meet the Special Challenges for Women Lawyers;
- Owning Your Career;
- Achieving Commitment to Career and Work-Life Balance;
- The Importance of Networking and Client Development;
- Negotiating Effectively for Clients and for Yourself; and
- Looking Back and Moving Forward to Successful and Satisfying Careers.
Contact me if you would like more information about this program. Also read the information on “Improving Women’s Initiatives” in my book, Best Friends at the Bar: Top-Down Leadership for Women Lawyers (Wolters Kluwer/Aspen Publishers 2015).
Good luck on your journey!
