Women in the Law

San Diego lawyer launches all-female, all-partner virtual firm

The fledgling virtual firm Vanst Law in San Diego has no office, no break room and no conference room of its own—so the partners get creative about finding ways to stay collegial. “Our firm culture is extremely important to us. We can’t meet at the watercooler, but isolation isn’t a problem,” says founder and CEO Cynthia Morgan-Reed.

Jul 1, 2019 1:25 AM CDT

Facebook recognizes diversity efforts of outside counsel with award to Kilpatrick Townsend

Facebook has tapped Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton for its first Law Firm Diversity Champion Award.

Jun 25, 2019 3:12 PM CDT

University of Idaho law professor sues school for racial and gender discrimination

A black female law professor alleging race and gender discrimination in employment and education has filed a federal lawsuit against the University of Idaho College of Law. In her complaint filed June 19 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, Shaakirrah Sanders, the first black person to…

Jun 24, 2019 2:40 PM CDT

Former Jones Day partner drops suit claiming ‘enforced code of silence’ led to pay bias

A former Jones Day partner in California has dropped her pay bias suit against the law firm in exchange for return of capital that she contributed to the firm. Lawyer Wendy Moore has dismissed all her claims, according to a statement by the law firm emailed to the ABA Journal.…

Jun 18, 2019 3:28 PM CDT

Ginsburg says Kennedy’s retirement was ‘event of greatest consequence’ for current term

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg appeared to suggest Friday that the number of sharply divided cases will increase as the term ends, beating the current percentage of about 25%. And she also appeared to suggest that the retirement of Justice Anthony M. Kennedy is affecting the outcomes. Ginsburg…

Jun 10, 2019 10:15 AM CDT

Another University of Denver law professor sues school alleging gender and wage discrimination

A tenured associate professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law has filed an Equal Pay Act complaint, claiming that she earns significantly less than others in her academic category.

Jun 10, 2019 6:30 AM CDT

Lawyer count in US increases 14.5% from decade ago; these 5 states have highest number of active attorneys

The number of active lawyers in the United States increased 14.5% over the last decade, according to statistics released Friday by the ABA. The total number of active lawyers at the beginning of 2019 was 1,352,027, up from 1,180,386 in 2009, according to the ABA’s National Lawyer Population Survey. The…

Jun 3, 2019 11:46 AM CDT

Bullying and sexual harassment ‘are rife in the legal profession,’ global survey finds

One in three female lawyers have been sexually harassed in a work context, while one in two women have experienced bullying in the workplace, according to a recently released global survey of nearly 7,000 lawyers in 135 countries. The numbers were somewhat lower for male lawyers. One in 14 men…

May 16, 2019 7:00 AM CDT

BigLaw firm wins partial dismissal of 2 plaintiffs’ claims in gender bias suit

A federal magistrate judge has tossed some claims by two former Morrison & Foerster associates who sued the law firm for alleged gender bias in a would-be class action. The May 1 decision by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley allows the women a chance to replead their claims, Bloomberg…

May 6, 2019 7:30 AM CDT

Attorney who does pro bono for inmates is new Miss USA

A 27-year-old North Carolina litigation attorney who handles pro bono work for inmates was crowned the new Miss USA on Thursday.

May 3, 2019 9:25 AM CDT

‘Belongingness’ is important to diversity and inclusion in the workplace

In March, I was presented with the ABA Health Law Section’s Champion of Diversity and Inclusion Award. I was incredibly honored to receive this particular award. I am, indeed, a champion for diversity and inclusion, and serving as a voice for diversity is very important to me, both personally and…

May 2, 2019 6:30 AM CDT

Cake incident was ‘breaking point’ for marginalized general counsel, her $20M bias lawsuit says

The former general counsel of data analytics company ExlService Holdings has filed a lawsuit contending that she was marginalized, micromanaged and disrespected by the company’s overwhelmingly male leadership. Former general counsel and executive vice president Nancy Saltzman alleges that Exl CEO Rohit Kapoor excluded her from career opportunities and gave…

Apr 30, 2019 1:58 PM CDT

Federal judge rejects BigLaw firm’s sanctions request in gender bias suit

Corrected: A federal judge in San Francisco has denied Morrison & Foerster’s request for sanctions in a suit claiming “mommy track” gender bias by the law firm. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley of San Francisco rejected the motion during arguments Thursday, the Recorder reports. Morrison & Foerster had claimed…

Apr 19, 2019 11:20 AM CDT

Jones Day says gender bias lawsuit painted ‘distorted picture’

Jones Day is responding to a gender bias lawsuit with a statement that cites an “inclusive culture” and a partnership that includes 240 women. A $200 million lawsuit filed April 3 had alleged that the firm has a “fraternity culture” in which female lawyers have to participate if they hope…

Apr 10, 2019 9:01 AM CDT

BigLaw firm seeks sanctions against plaintiff, firm in suit alleging ‘mommy track’ bias

Morrison & Foerster has filed a sanctions motion alleging that the law firm that sued it for alleged “mommy track” gender bias added a plaintiff, despite a warning that she did not have a viable claim. The motion, filed Monday, seeks dismissal of the claim filed by the plaintiff, known…

Apr 10, 2019 7:00 AM CDT