Feb. 20, 2019 – Despite the relatively equal ratio of men and women graduating law schools and joining law firms, only about 20 percent of partners at major law firms are women. Other data suggest women leave law firms before their careers fully mature.
What is the root cause of this? A panel of women explored that question at the most recent State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE™ Wisconsin Solo & Small Firm Conference, including Ann Jacobs, a personal injury attorney in Milwaukee. She says law firms should rethink paternalistic thinking.
“What we see are people making decisions for the lawyer on what she is going to be participating in,” Jacobs said. “Men in the firm will say something like, ‘she won’t be interested in this file. It’s too much work and she has a young family.’”
Jacobs says law firms must let the woman lawyer make that decision. “The lawyer is a competent, capable person that you are entrusting with the work of your client,” Jacobs said. “This is someone you can trust to make good and sound decisions.”
“You should let them make their own decisions on a particular file, a meeting, a speaking opportunity, a committee, any other opportunity you would normally offer them. Let them decide if it’s something they want to participate in.”
Upcoming Event
Attend the 2019 Diversity Counsel Program, “The Issues Have Surfaced, but Was Anyone Listening? How to Proactively Solve Gender-Related Challenges in Today’s Workplace.”
When: Monday, April 29th (8:30 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.)
Where: Italian Conference Center, 631 E. Chicago Street,
Milwaukee.
Register: Visit Diversity Counsel Program, or contact Bryant Park at bpark@wisbar.org.
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