Women in the Law

Threat of cyberattacks must be recognized and responded to, ABA president urges lawyers

When Hurricane Sandy swept across the northeast United States at the end of October, it left more than 8 million homes without electricity across 17 states. Some homeowners, as well as businesses, waited more than two weeks for power to be restored. But compared to what could happen in a…

Feb 1, 2013 7:50 AM CST

Linguist sees gender gap in reactions to managers’ humor

A linguistics expert who spent time observing management interactions at seven U.K. companies found the women she observed typically failed to get laughs when they told jokes. The study by Aston University professor Judith Baxter found that more than 80 percent of quips by senior female figures were met with…

Jan 23, 2013 12:00 PM CST

Only one woman has made partner in 25 years at BigLaw firm’s Miami office

Linda Leali didn’t have a lot of role models during her 12 years as an associate at the Miami office of White & Case. Only one woman has made partner in the firm’s Miami office in 25 years, the Daily Business Review reports. A magna cum laude law grad from…

Jan 16, 2013 11:30 AM CST

Sotomayor: I wanted to be a cop, but learned from ‘Perry Mason’ that I could be a lawyer

As Sonia Sotomayor was growing up in a housing project in the Bronx, she wanted to become a police officer. But after a childhood diabetes diagnosis made that career an impossible dream for her, she realized, watching Perry Mason on television, that an alternative career as a lawyer had similar…

Jan 14, 2013 8:16 PM CST

Video: Banner Week for Financial Prosecutions; BigLaw Partners’ 2013 Predictions

Editor’s Note: We’re experimenting with using more video on ABAJournal.com and will be bringing you this short weekly legal news brief from Bloomberg Law for the next few weeks. Thanks for the feedback so far. Please note that adding video would not mean eliminating text-based stories. Rather, we’re exploring adding…

Dec 13, 2012 6:46 PM CST

Continued Dip in Number of Female Associates Is ‘Significant and Troubling Trend’

The percentage of female associates in law firms has fallen slightly for the third year in a row, even as women made small gains in partnership ranks, according to NALP, the Association for Legal Career Professionals. Women made up 45.05 percent of associates in an “incremental but steady slide from…

Dec 13, 2012 1:30 PM CST

In Upcoming Memoir, Sotomayor Tells How Fear of Early Death Affected Motherhood Decision

A new memoir by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, scheduled for publication in January, explains a primary reason she opted not to have children: a fear of early death. Sotomayor has struggled with diabetes since childhood, and she says the fear of dying early was a big factor in her decision against…

Dec 11, 2012 1:04 PM CST

Letters: A Storied Career

A STORIED CAREER When I began my career as a litigator, I had several great mentors. But there’s only one I never met—James McElhaney. His tales of Angus, Beth Golden and “Mongo” were required reading for me, and taught me as much about trying a case as any number of…

Dec 1, 2012 11:00 AM CST

Around the Blawgosphere: Actor’s Morality Play; What ‘Lincoln’ Left Out; Profs re ‘Fiscal Cliff’

To Be or Not to Be Immoral Many people have watched Two and a Half Men actor Angus T. Jones’ video testimonial for religious group the Forerunner Chronicles in which he calls Two and a Half Men “filth” that no one should watch. E! Online reported this week that the…

Nov 30, 2012 2:30 PM CST

Attorney Who Gave Up City Job for Kids Forms ‘Top Brain’ Law Firm With Other Stay-at-Home Moms

A former London lawyer who gave up a lucrative legal job in the global financial center after she had her first child is now challenging the traditional idea that skilled corporate attorneys have to work at traditional BigLaw firms if they want a challenging legal career. Eve King joined with…

Nov 27, 2012 7:03 PM CST

Women’s Initiatives in BigLaw Are Abundant and ‘Woefully Underfunded,’ Report Says

In the last decade, women’s initiatives and women’s affinity groups have become a staple of BigLaw culture. The idea is to retain and advance women lawyers, who currently make up only about 15 percent of equity partners. Are the efforts working? According to a new report (PDF) by the National…

Nov 19, 2012 11:30 AM CST

Report Finds ‘Stagnation’ in Diversity at New York City Law Firms

Diversity remains a challenge for New York City law firms, according to a 2011 Diversity Benchmarking Report released on Wednesday. The report (PDF) by the New York City Bar Association says its survey results “paint a picture of stagnation for women and minority attorneys. At the micro-level there are improvements…

Nov 15, 2012 4:04 PM CST

Best Law Firms for Women Named; Survey Shows Increase in Women Leaders, But No ‘Critical Mass’

The best law firms for women are showing gains in family friendly policies and women in leadership positions, with room yet for improvement. Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers have named their 2012 50 Best Law Firms for Women, honoring them for “leading the way in attracting, retaining and promoting women…

Nov 13, 2012 4:40 PM CST

Why Ms. X Is Leaving BigLaw: Busy Mom Details Untenable Schedule in Departure Memo

If you’ve ever wondered why it can be so difficult to juggle motherhood and BigLaw, a Clifford Chance associate dubbed Ms. X explains it in a departure memo with a blow-by-blow account of her untenable daily routine. Above the Law blogger Elie Mystal, himself a new father, posted the memo…

Nov 13, 2012 12:15 PM CST

Ginsburg Named One of Glamour Magazine’s ‘Women of the Year 2012’

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has achieved a new honor: She is one of Glamour Magazine’s “Women of the Year 2012.” The magazine noted Ginsburg’s groundbreaking work on behalf of women’s rights. Its write-up begins this way: “You could call it a bit of a rocky start: After being one of…

Nov 2, 2012 12:25 PM CDT