Law Students

NAWL?s 2008 National Survey on Retention and Promotion of Women in Law Firms, Part I

Posted on November 18, 2008
So, it is that time of year and NAWL released it's 2008 Survey report yesterday.  Truthfully, there isn't much to write about this survey that you can't learn by reading the report and posts about it from last year.  The numbers have not really changed...

The Jury Expert

Posted on November 17, 2008
The American Society of Trial Consultants recently released a new trial skills journal, The Jury Expert. One of the feature articles, written by Elizabeth J. Parks-Stamm, discusses juror reactions to successful women. The article, Anticipate and Influence Juror Reactions to Successful Women, discusses "what happens when women jurors see successful women attorneys, plaintiffs or defendants and how you can mitigate the often negative judgment against successful women...

Women of the Missouri Court: First Event to feature the only four women who have served on the Missouri Supreme Court

Posted on November 17, 2008
In all of Missouri?s history, only four women have served on the state Supreme Court.  The Women?s Law Association (WLA) at the University of Missouri School of Law hosted the first event ever to feature and honor these four women.  On Wednesday November 12, 2008 Judge Ann Covington, Judge Mary Russell, Judge Patricia Breckenridge, and current Justice Laura Stith sat on a panel together at the Law School to discuss the journey women have in the legal profession and future progress...

The Interview Suit

Posted on November 16, 2008
The New York Times reports that classic suits are making a comeback in The Return of the Interview Suit. The unemployment rate is currently high in America, and so are suit sales:  Companies like Men?s Wearhouse and Tahari are reporting an upswing in suit sales, particularly for those classic navy or gray pinstripe styles they classify as ?interview suits...

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Hillary Clinton: The Trailblazer

Posted on November 16, 2008
Dubbing her a "trailblazing political pioneer," Hillary Clinton was named a 2008 Woman of the Year by Glamour Magazine. Although she did not reach the White House, Kati Marton writes that Hillary "won while losing." She continues to be a huge force on every topic she cares about, and her stature remains undiminished throughout the world...

Ms. JD Weekly Roundup: Week Ending November 14, 2008

Posted on November 14, 2008
11th Circuit Judge Phyllis A. Kravitch Blazed Path for Other Female Lawyers Wall Street Journal Names Marcia Goldstein of Weil Gotshal Among '50 Women to Watch' Kenyan Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida) Withdraws from Special Task Force Investigating Sexual Violence During the Post-Election Crisis Author Carol Evans Sees Brighter Future for Working Women Ackerman's Cecelia Bonifay and Theresa McLaughlin Named Two of Florida's 'Women of Influence' by Real Estate Florida Magazine Perk of the Moment: Flextime Holland and Knight's Top Chefettes read more

Balancing Life, Work, and Jury Duty

Posted on November 11, 2008
Dakota Hankin, Sloan Network Graduate Research Assistant, writes about fulfilling our civic obligation while balancing work and personal life in her guest post, Family Friendly Jury Duty: I came across several articles as well as a blog entry discussing work and family issues that arise while fulfilling our responsibility as citizens to provide our peers with access to a fair trial...

Corporette Roundup

Posted on November 09, 2008
Recent columns and polls at Corporette: Patterned Tights Dressing Professionally if You?re Busty Professional Women and Tattoos Knee-high Boots in a Professional Capacity? read more

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending November 7, 2008

Posted on November 07, 2008
Australian Women in Legal Profession in a Rush to Work Part-Time New Solicitor General on Obama To-Do List: Woman To Be Nominated? Play Commemorates the Naming of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University The White House's Working Mom - Michelle Obama Lawyer Gina Rubel Named Philadephia Business Journal's Woman of Distinction Law Firms Reflect Greater Demand for Diverse Work Force Generation Y Takes on Work-Life Balance read more

Election Victories for Women Lawyers

Posted on November 06, 2008
Contested seats go to women in Wake's district court: Three women -- Jacqueline Brewer, Christine Walczyk and Anna E. Worley -- earned spots on Wake County's District Court benches, beating out their male opponents in Tuesday's election. The three races at the District Court level were the only contested ones in the Wake County Courthouse, with most of the 11 District Court judges running unopposed for re-election...

First Female Solicitor General?

Posted on November 06, 2008
The U.S. Solicitor General position has been held by many prominent lawyers--Thurgood Marshall and Robert Bork, to name two--but the position has yet to be filled by a woman. Several sources are reporting that "some women could be on Obama's short list for the spot", including Washington lawyer Beth Brinkmann, Stanford Law School professor and former dean Kathleen Sullivan, Harvard Law Dean Elena Kagan, former New York State solicitor general Preeta Bansal, and MetLife litigation counsel Teresa Wynn Roseborough...

Michelle Obama: Lawyer and First Lady

Posted on November 05, 2008
Michelle Obama, lawyer and wife of President-Elect Barack Obama, is now about to assume the role of first lady.  In honor of this event, Ms. JD offers this brief biography of Michelle Obama: Michelle Obama was born on the South Side of Chicago, and graduated with her undergraduate degree from Princeton University...

Power in the Ballot: Vote to Make History

Posted on November 04, 2008
I am a week behind in my reading for Con Law, my laundry is piling up, I have grocery shopping to do, I have messages to return, and emails to send. But all this can wait while I go vote. I will cast my ballot, even if it means falling another day behind, even if it means waiting in line for hours, even if it means standing in the rain...

Margaret Brent Women of Achievement, Call for Nominations

Posted on November 02, 2008
The ABA Commission on Women in the Profession is accepting nominations for the 18th Annual Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award. The award was established in 1991 to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of women lawyers. Each year, this award honors five outstanding women lawyers who have achieved professional excellence within their area of specialty and have actively paved the way to success for other women lawyers...

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending October 31, 2008

Posted on October 31, 2008
Saratoga Attorney Lorraine Power Tharp Dies Mandeville Woman Trades Law Partnership for Writing Career Andrews Kurth Partner Highlighted Among Extraordinary Women in Texas Law Women Lawyers Go To Battle in Madonna/Ritchie Divorce Nigerian Women Lawyers Seek President Yar'Adua's Backing for FIDA Top Job Women Lawyers Meet for Success in Jacksonville read more

First Women: Joan Lukey

Posted on October 28, 2008
At some point in virtually every working day, a thought passes through my mind -- sometimes grabbing hold and refusing to depart quickly -- about the women who have been my professional role models and about the impact that they have had upon my life...

Law Firm Hierarchy: Is Rank Unfeminine?

Posted on October 26, 2008
I enjoyed a coversation recently with a male friend who inquired about my looming future career as a "big firm lawyer." I expressed some rational doubt and hesitancy about my future - anyone who thinks that gearing up from the luxurious gliding pace of 3L year to the 80 hour week grind is going to be easy is living in a wonderful dream world...

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending October 24, 2008

Posted on October 24, 2008
Are Women Lawyers 80 Years Away from Partnership Parity with Men? Tallahassee Women Lawyers Honor the Judiciary McManis Faulkner's Neda Mansoorian Elected to California Women Lawyers' Board Strategies for Transitioning Female Attorneys Women Lawyers Give Tribute to Those in Judicial Circles Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association Urges Women to Speak with One Voice on Gender Based Issues read more

This Week at The Glass Hammer

Posted on October 23, 2008
Two posts at The Glass Hammer caught my eye this week as being particularly pertinent to women in the legal profession.  Elizabeth Harrin on Work/Life Balance in the Law: It?s not easy balancing work and a home life.  Throw in clients who need you to be available at all hours, managers who don?t believe in vacations and court dates that change at the drop of a hat and you have to wonder why anyone  chooses the legal profession at all...

Alternative Legal Jobs Clearing House and Legal Recruiter Calls: Really? In this Market?

Posted on October 23, 2008
So, the market is in a downward spiral that seems to come up for air every so often but then turn-around and head right back down.  A lot of law firm associates that I know are worried.  They are worried about "stealth layoffs" and about head-count reductions and generally about the fact that work is REALLY slow these days...

Daddy Bonus, Mommy Penalty

Posted on October 20, 2008
Neil H. Buchanan's recent paper, Why Do Women Lawyers Earn Less than Men? Parenthood and Gender in a Survey of Law School Graduates, reveals a correlation between parental status and salary. Using a dataset of survey responses from University of Michigan Law School graduates from the classes of 1970 through 1996, I find that fathers tend to receive higher salaries than non-fathers (a "daddy bonus")...

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending October 17, 2008

Posted on October 17, 2008
Women Lawyers will Battle It Out in Madonna Divorce Big St. Louis Law Firms Show Little Progress in Minority and Women Hires Women Break the Judicial Glass Ceiling in Britain Philadelphia Bar Association Celebrates Women Leaders With Annual Award and Panel Australian Jurisdiction NSW's Government Keeps Score on Women Barristers Used Law Society of Upper Canada Launches Cutting-Edge Think Tank to Retain and Advance Women in Legal Profession read more

Book Review: Play Like a Man Win Like a Woman: Gail Evans

Posted on October 17, 2008
I recently heard Gail Evans talk and she was great.  Her talk was inspiring and also very practical and prompted me to finally read her book, Play Like a Man Win Like a Woman.  (It is currently only $10.17 on Amazon!).  At the end of the book, Ms. Evans writes, "This book is about learning to make noise, and also, learning to make choices...

Anna Deavere Smith, Actor & Playwright, Writes One-Woman Play Celebrating Women in the Law

Posted on October 16, 2008
To commemorate the 2006 naming of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, actor and playwright Anna Deavere Smith wrote, and is now performing in, a one-woman play about women in the law.  Smith, known for her role as Nancy McNally, the National Security Advisor on NBC's The West Wing, wanted to pay a living tribute to women in the law through this play...

Minority Women Partners: Some Cities Fare Better Than Others

Posted on October 16, 2008
Recent analysis by NALP reports that minority women continue to be dramatically underrepresented at the partnership level, making up less than 2% of partners in the nation's major law firms. The findings also reveal that, nationally, women and minorities continue to be much better represented in associate and summer associate ranks than in the partnership ranks...

Ms. JD 2008 Fall Intern

Posted on October 14, 2008
Ms. JD is seeking responsible and self-motivated law students to intern for the remainder of the fall semester.  Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, so apply today! A stipend of $300 will be offered for 30 hours of work.  read more

Part III in Series: A Junior Associate's Networking Plan

Posted on October 14, 2008
Okay, so now to Part III: Law School Network and Alumni Groups. I have found that the typical advice, both formal and informal, to a junior associate trying to start building her professional network is that she shoud start with keeping in touch with law school classmates...

Survey: Flexing, Floundering or 'Just Fine Thanks': Work/Life Issues in America

Posted on October 10, 2008
Life Meets Work is conducting a first annual survey: Flexing, Floundering, or 'Just Fine Thanks': Work/Life Issues in America. Seeking to capture the opinions of Americans regarding work/life challenges, the role of government, and flexible work programs, Life Meets Work invites you to share your views on Work/Life Issues in America...

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending October 3, 2008

Posted on October 03, 2008
Women Lawyers, Juries, - And Stress? Women Lawyers Move Towards the Top in Asia Stereotypes Blamed for Job Review Bias Against Women Report: Pay Gap is Closing - Slowly Family-Friendly Law Firms Attract Women Florida Association for Women Lawyers' Forms a University of Florida Chapter read more

About NWLSO

Posted on October 03, 2008
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