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LAW: WHY SO MANY WOMEN CHOOSE IT, THEN LOSE IT
We swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help us God.
In October Girlphyte weighs in on the current epidemic. Not bird flu, but it does involve flight - of women (and increasingly men) from law. Making partner or just staying in the game is a huge challenge. It’s the grueling hours, unclear rules of the game and the "only boys who are part of the club" thrive/survive handicapper.
Q: Can we be productive partners in law firms and still thrive and survive maternity, raising kids, and being a whole person?
Law is a great profession that speaks to social values; and WE SAY women are a necessary part of the action and the dialogue. Time to show the "ubiquitous they", who think law is just a business; that maternity is a death wish; live and die by billable hours; and who say "if I did it then you should…" to think again. The best firms don’t just give lip service to supporting women – they make it happen.
The firm’s composition - in boardrooms and the courtroom – mirrors its values. Savvy clients agree. Tell that to the Judge. She’s hip to it.
So, if you are a lawyer; ever aspired to be one; lived with one, married or divorced one; consulted one; might be breeding a nascent lawyer; or just enjoy human misery in all of its manifestations, this is a must read.
MIGHT THIS START A STAMPEDE?
Not everyone is drinking the same Kool-Aid on how to "make it" in law. Toronto lawyer, Michael Myers,[definitely funny, but not a relative to another Canadian Mike] writes:
Being a lawyer undoubtedly increased my interest in your recent "Mind and Body" piece exposing the raw underbelly of the legal profession´s failure generally to balance (in no particular order) family, work and income. But I believe that the solutions that your readers are looking for are out there - but are definitely not being offered in any meaningful way by the large law firms - certainly not the Bay Street law firms in Toronto.
I am a founding partner of a "smaller" downtown Toronto law firm; with 13 lawyers and about 35 staff in total. And we have implemented a series of policies and procedures since our inception in 2001 that attempt to deal with and, we hope, solve many of the basic concerns that women (and men alike) face in the daily struggle between life and career.
First, we dealt with the "billable hours" issue by setting reasonable expectations. At our firm, 1,200 - 1,300 annual billable hours is our idea of a year´s legal dockets. And associates and partners alike are rewarded with a generous bonus structure for exceeding these easily attainable billable targets. Needless to say, our base salaries cannot compete with the base salary of a firm requiring 1,800 - 2,200 docketed hours per lawyer. But then, 1,200 - 1,300 annual billable hours is attainable by most with only 8 or 9 daily office hours. This leaves everyone with the choice of limiting their workday to 8 or 9 hours (a rare pleasure in the legal profession these days), or everyone is free to work a little longer and reap the benefit of our bonus compensation for addition docketed time.
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Now take the test below. Questions D – H and the results key are in Boom . No peeking.
Are you lawyering or living?
A. The first thing you touch in the morning is your:
1. Snooze button
2. Coffee cup
3. Unfinished work and a slice of cold pizza from the night before
B. Your waking words are:
1. "Good morning, I’m making pancakes"
2. "Venti macchiato no foam"
3. "Oh gosh, it can’t be 6 a.m. already!?!"
C. Around the water cooler you:
1. Banter lightly about your favourite TV series
2. Chat about cases
3. Down Tylenol with a Red Bull Chaser and complain bitterly
More In Boom
Why Lawyers are Miserable - mind/body
Lisa Summers – Be Yourself - mind/body
Jane Clapp – The One Minute Genius – song & soul
Abby Ginsburg – Lights, Camera, Philosophy – song & soul
Lauren Stiller Rikleen– Solutions – success
Vicki Donlan - Law + Women = Power - success
Mara Greene – It’s Criminal – xx & xy
Mae O´Malley - Innovate – $$
Randi Bean - Relocate – $$
Mary Cantando – words of wisdom and more….
WARNING: Even reading about law can cause anxiety and be hazardous to your health. Do not apply before operating heavy equipment or at bedtime.
06.11.2007
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