“How can I take you seriously? You’re so cute” Yes, this is what a technical director once said to me many years ago when I was one of the early, few, female unit managers for network news at a national broadcasting center in New York City, in the last quarter of the last century.
And yes, that was a while ago. I was just past adolescence working for the first time in my life and having not yet, at that time, finished university much less having gone to law school. The responsibilities were various – handling show crews, booking studio times, equipment and manpower for the given show I was assigned to, as well as handling all the below-the-line issues and costs as well as projecting a yearly budget and resolving it on a weekly basis – well it was a bit of responsibility.
And yet one of the broadcast division, department directors complimented me upon my receiving a promotion by saying ,“You don’t fool around!” By that he meant not only that I was not a “frivolous” female on one hand, but nor was I scheming to look for a husband among the professional ranks of the men there on the other.
We have all heard these stories, they are part of the annals of history, of women entering professions and work forces which were traditionally dominated by men. Certainly, law was one of those professions.
Long before these contemporary challenges for women, the presence, the voice was always there, from Aspasia who it is “rumored” to have taught Socrates and influenced Plato, down to the six women who in 1942 programmed ENIAC, the first programable, digital computer launched in 1946. These women who finally receiving recognition 50 years later only had their brain power, logic and determination to make this happen (credit to inspiringherambition.co). And likely also their vision, creativity and intuitive insight.
So what does this mean for women in law? We have a voice, and it looks like it is becoming louder and more powerful.
Despite the fits and starts of women’s progress in heretofore male dominated arenas such as law, the simple fact is that women’s voice, presence and perspective are unstoppable. It has been proven that women have not only had determination to succeed, but endurance.
Early on, it appeared important for women practicing law to follow suit in a sort of lock step with men. It was important to demonstrate that women in law were every bit as capable as men in all categories of effort, research, presentation, argument, litigation, etc.
A conversation comes to mind some years ago, in which a successful female attorney in Washington DC was expostulating as to the benefits for women attorneys of taking a seminar that would show them how to create a “cool” (meaning no emotion) and seemingly dispassionate presentation. And this was just a handful of years ago. The idea was to master a certain choreography of presentation.
Certainly, it is understood that in professional discourse a type of professional manner needs to be maintained in general, for credibility. But this was not that. Here in some sense, it was being proposed that to the extent the female lawyer could mimic or “be the man” to that extent she would be successful.
It must be said that this is not suggestive of all female lawyers having had to adopt a de-genderized behavior everywhere, at all times. And indeed this clearly has not been so. However, female attorneys have had and to some extent still have to “battle” their way into credibility, to be taken seriously at times, and in their own measure.
Flash forward to today.
While men still dominate the “upper echelons,” meaning judges, courts, law firm partners and corporate counsel positions, women are starting to catch up. The “ABA Profile of the Legal Profession from 2024” compiled this data:
- In 2016 women became a majority of law school students
- In 2020 women became a majority of general lawyers in the federal government
- In 2023 women became a majority of law firm associates
- [At this time] women are [becoming] a majority of full-time law school faculty members
The continuing movement for more powerful representation: the presence of women in the legal community has brought some areas of law into greater focus as well, such as human right, women’s rights and more.
Women lawyers continue to make their mark.
At times, the female voice can perhaps contribute a fresh sensibility and discernment. A vision beyond the borders of syllogistic reasoning, while honoring those critical investments of tools in the traditional legal processes.
What can this voice bring to the table that might not have been there so powerfully before? There are numerous articles available which speak to the progress and contribution of women to the legal profession.
Here are some attributes which many women in law bring to the table in addition to their legal training and acumen:
Enhancing organization and productivity – Many law firms suffer greatly from management issues. Multi-tasking has been found to be a skill at which women often excel.
There are those who have pointed out that woman are powerfully adept at leadership by viewing possibilities with greater vision as well as with greater detail orientation. This, along with problem solving skills can represent important navigation in diplomacy where needed with clients, and adversarial counsel. (I once watched a female criminal defense counsel deftly guide the jury into reasonable doubt, where the case was very strong against her client, by a combination of legal skill, wit and careful diplomacy in court, despite a bombastic and confident prosecutor.)
Women have been known to be strong problem solvers. This skill may be related to comfort levels in multi-tasking.
Often women have been found to be attentive listeners and communicators. A very important attribute in furthering legal processes.
In the end, with a talent for endurance and perseverance, through the challenges, women often handle stress better – an important trait in just about any area of legal practice.
All in all, it is safe to say that women will continue to pursue careers in law, continue to work for greater representation and continue to let their voices ring out strong.
Comments 2
Great piece and thought provoking. Having worked in law firms for 20+ years I have seen the transformation of the profession from a male dominated profession to one which female voices are playing a greater role, which Ms. Debney Shaw illustrates in her piece. It will be interesting to see where the profession is on this metric in 10 years when the majority female law school classes have graduated and worked their way up the law firm ladder.
You have considerable breadth of experience, and I appreciate your insight and intuitive assessment. The legal profession, and the world at large, can only gain from diversity of thought and background. Thank you for sharing your reflections, impressions, and wisdom; hopefully your example will encourage others to contribute to ongoing discussion along these lines as well.