| Women and the Legal Profession | | | | them to flourish in their chosen career with no |
| While it's true many of the obstacles women had to | | | | limitations, or at least, no more limitations than their male |
| overcome in the 1960s and even the 1970s are no | | | | co-workers, is challenging at best and disappointingly |
| longer significant issues, those women who choose a | | | | impossible at worst. |
| legal career still face challenges their peers in other | | | | Fortunately, and finally, the long overdue shifts are |
| professions may never encounter. According to the | | | | beginning to occur. The odds of women lawyers |
| American Bar Association, women account for nearly | | | | finding the right fit that allows them to bring it all to the |
| 32% of all attorneys in America as of 2008. This is | | | | table, so to speak, are increasing. As A. Harrison |
| remarkable when one considers that in 1930, less than | | | | Barnes, an attorney and CEO of points out, graduating |
| two percent of American lawyers were women. But | | | | from a top law school is only part of the story. |
| what does this mean in terms of securing employment | | | | Remaining committed to finding the right position is |
| in the legal profession? And do women face | | | | crucial not only for your success, but for your overall |
| discriminations, on any level, in the one profession built | | | | happiness - in both your career and personal life. He |
| to ensure discrimination does not exist at all within the | | | | goes on to say, "This is one reason was created - to |
| employment process? The answers may surprise | | | | provide across-the-board career opportunities for |
| you. | | | | attorneys across the U.S." There are those firms |
| A groundbreaking study was conducted in 2004 by | | | | that excel in meeting the needs of its legal teams and |
| DRI, an international organization of attorneys that | | | | its clients. No one should have to sacrifice one for |
| defend businesses and individuals. The results | | | | the other, nor should anyone - men or women - |
| revealed one of the biggest challenges for female | | | | discover they've hit the glass ceiling. Not only does it |
| lawyers is they're not allowed the opportunity to be as | | | | stifle employees, but it also limits the legal firm as a |
| aggressive and even confrontational as their male | | | | whole. |
| counterparts in litigation. Further, women lawyers | | | | As mentioned, the shifts are beginning to occur, |
| report feeling as though they're inhibited by the | | | | however it can be a bit of a slow dance. According |
| proverbial glass ceiling that keeps them from | | | | to the American Bar Association, women lawyers still |
| advancing. One thing female attorneys have in | | | | earn significantly less than male lawyers. In 2007, |
| common with other women in the work force is the | | | | women were earning 77.5% of a man's typical |
| expectations of American society. Women are still | | | | salary. The numbers improve with each report. It's |
| considered the nurturers and should shoulder the lion's | | | | worth mentioning that in 2002, the percentage was |
| share of domestic chores and responsibilities. This, as | | | | 69.4%. |
| one might expect, is more than a little frustrating and | | | | For more information on A. Harrison Barnes, visit his |
| disheartening for those who dedicate a portion of their | | | | blog at and we invite you to visit for access to legal |
| lives to pursuing their educations in an effort to make a | | | | careers, including paralegal jobs and legal secretary |
| significant mark in the legal field. As a result, women | | | | jobs throughout the country that are advertised |
| lawyers feel the right legal environment that allows | | | | nowhere else. |