Category Archives: Legal Profession

“Number of Women Lawyers Hits 5-Year Low at NLJ 250 Firms”

Posted on November 16, 2010 by Ann Bartow

From this site: The percentage of women partners and associates working at NLJ 250 law firms this year fell to its lowest point since 2006. Women associates and partners accounted for 29.2 percent of all attorneys at NLJ 250 firms. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Feminism and Families, Legal Profession, The Overrepresentation of Men, The Underrepresentation of Women | 1 Comment

Schneider on “Why do Women Hate Negotiating?”

Posted on October 27, 2010 by Bridget Crawford

Andrea Schneider (Marquette) asks over at Indisputably.org, “Why do women hate negotiating?” Last week, the Washington Post had an article on its blog with this title reviewing the depressing research that women “don’t ask” at the same rate as men and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Feminism and Politics, Legal Profession | 1 Comment

Rather Perplexing “Professional Development” Story

Posted on October 12, 2010 by Ann Bartow

Attendance is not something that should have been required, anyway. And of course female attorneys were excluded. –Ann Bartow

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Posted in Legal Profession, Masculinity | Comments Off on Rather Perplexing “Professional Development” Story

NYSBA Announcement on US News Decision to “Rate” (Not Rank) Law Firms

Posted on July 12, 2010 by Bridget Crawford

New York State Bar Association President Stephen P. Younger (Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP) sent this message today to the group’s members: As many of you know, U.S. News and World Report announced earlier this year that, working with … Continue reading →

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Posted in Law Schools, Legal Profession | 3 Comments

An all women Supreme Court?

Posted on April 16, 2010 by rrobson

It’s not impossible.   The Texas Supreme Court is a testament to the possibility.   It happened eighty-five years ago,   if only for a single case. In 1925, the Texas Governor appointed three women to fill all the positions … Continue reading →

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Posted in Courts and the Judiciary, Feminism and Law, Feminist Legal History, If you're a woman, Legal Profession, The Underrepresentation of Women | 2 Comments

Hide That Tramp Stamp!

Posted on April 12, 2010 by lgoodmark

A friend recently told me about a panel at her law school, where judges admonished young female attorneys about wearing inappropriate clothing and groused about attorneys who let their “tramp stamps” show.  The judges were women, by the way…I thought … Continue reading →

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Posted in Feminism and Law, Legal Profession | 1 Comment

Batlan on “Roles, Perceptions and Working Conditions of Legal Secretaries in Large Law Firms”

Posted on April 9, 2010 by Bridget Crawford

Felice Batlan (Chicago Kent) has posted to SSRN an abstract of her article ‘If You Become His Second Wife, You are a Fool’: Shifting Paradigms of the Roles, Perceptions, and Working Conditions of Legal Secretaries in Large Law Firms (forthcoming, … Continue reading →

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If SCOTUS Opinions Don’t Use Gender-Neutral Language, Why Should Any Lawyer?

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Bridget Crawford

Leslie Rose (Golden Gate) has posted to SSRN her article, The Supreme Court and Gender-Neutral Language: Setting the Standard or Lagging Behind (forthcoming Duke J. of Gender Law & Policy).  Here is the abstract: Most modern legal writing texts and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Courts and the Judiciary, Legal Profession, Sociolinguistics | 1 Comment

Dress Professionally and Be Excellent, NYSBA Advises Women Attorneys

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Bridget Crawford

Remember the “distinguished panel of gentlemen from the legal field” who were going to  discuss women’s strengths and weaknesses at the annual meeting of the New York State Bar Association?   (See here, here and here.)   The organizers changed … Continue reading →

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On the Silence of Justice Thomas

Posted on February 22, 2010 by Ann Bartow

This article discusses the fact that Justice Thomas has not asked a question during oral argument for about four years, and has been mostly quiet his entire time on the SCOTUS bench. It notes that a recent graduate of the … Continue reading →

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Ms. JD Fellowships for 2Ls

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Ann Bartow

Ms. JD has announced a new fellowship opportunity for 2Ls, which will select 20 of the most promising second-year law students in the country and provide them with one-on-one career mentorship from the nation’s most accomplished female attorneys. I’m hoping … Continue reading →

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Posted in Fellowships and Funding Opportunities, From the FLP mailbox, Law Schools, Legal Profession | Comments Off on Ms. JD Fellowships for 2Ls

Practicing Lawyers Have All the Fun? “Sexual Peccadillos” at Annual Meetings

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Bridget Crawford

In today’s New York Lawyer (here; subscription site — sorry), the Rodent strikes again with a very funny description of the annual ritual of the law firm “retreat”: Once a year, BigLaw packs its bags and goes off to the … Continue reading →

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NYSBA “Responds to Concerns Regarding Annual Meeting Panel Presentation by the Committee of Women in the Law”

Posted on January 17, 2010 by Bridget Crawford

From my mailbox, this notice from the NYSBA: For further information, please contact Colleen A. Roche 646-229-8471 New York State Bar Association Responds to Concerns Regarding Annual Meeting Panel Presentation by the Committee of Women in the Law The New … Continue reading →

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Posted in Legal Profession | 2 Comments

Mentoring Across Gender: Suggestions for the NYSBA Committee on Women in the Law

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Bridget Crawford

I believe that men can mentor women and vice versa.   Mentoring and dialogue across gender should be encouraged in the legal profession. My objections (blogged here) to the upcoming New York State Bar Association Panel are based on the … Continue reading →

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Posted in Legal Profession | 1 Comment

The NYSBA Sponsors Panel of Men Opining on Women’s “Strengths and Weaknesses” as Lawyers

Posted on January 14, 2010 by Bridget Crawford

[Update here, as of  1/17/2010] The New York State Bar Association holds its Annual Meeting January 25-30, 2010 in New York City.   The Committee on Women in the Law is sponsoring a program called “Weathering Tough Times: Strategic Planning … Continue reading →

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Posted in Legal Profession | 10 Comments

Hearsay Exceptions

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Ann Bartow

Via the fabulous Rebecca P.; see also.

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Law School Diversity

Posted on January 9, 2010 by Bridget Crawford

There have been a number of articles in the New York Times this week highlighting diversity challenges in law schools, and the lack of legal representation among low and middle income individuals who cannot afford it. In one article, Law School … Continue reading →

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NYT Profile of Sheena Wright, CEO Abyssinian Development Corp.

Posted on December 30, 2009 by Bridget Crawford

For its weekly “The Boss” column, the New York Times’ Sunday business section profiled Sheena Wright, CEO of the Abyssinian Development Corporation, a non-profit “dedicated to building the human, social and physical capital of Harlem.”  Wright is a lawyer by … Continue reading →

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“The Couch of Restitution” (Or, The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea vs. The Devil in Miss Jones)

Posted on December 4, 2009 by Bridget Crawford

In a previous blog (feels like ages ago:I really must get out from under this blizzard of work!) I discussed the alienation of various aspects of human capacities and attributes, among them the sale of sexual services and the sale … Continue reading →

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Posted in Legal Profession, Women and Economics | Comments Off on “The Couch of Restitution” (Or, The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea vs. The Devil in Miss Jones)

I’m completely dumbfounded.

Posted on November 29, 2009 by Ann Bartow

By this. WARNING: Really horrible, proceed with caution. NB: Haven’t done any research to confirm the site’s legitimacy or the accuracy of the info, so caveat link clicker. –Ann Bartow

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Posted in Acts of Violence, Legal Profession | Comments Off on I’m completely dumbfounded.

NAWL 2009 National Survey on Retention and Promotion of Women in Law Firms

Posted on November 9, 2009 by Ann Bartow

From this site: On October 26, 2009, the NAWL and the NAWL Foundation released the results of the fourth annual Survey on Retention and Promotion of Women in Law Firms. The Survey is the only national study of the nation’s … Continue reading →

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Posted in Legal Profession, The Underrepresentation of Women | 2 Comments

Deputies Caught Stealing Documents From Defense Attorney During Court Proceeding

Posted on November 6, 2009 by Ann Bartow

From this article: …The tape shows Stoddard walking to the defense table during a sentencing that day. He leans over the table and begins reading from a document in the file of defense attorney Joanne Cuccia, who was speaking before … Continue reading →

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“Women who dress like Barbie dolls get treated like Barbie dolls”

Posted on November 4, 2009 by Bridget Crawford

The Miami Daily Business News has revived its “Rodent” column.   In yesterday’s column (here — free registration required), the writer chastises female lawyers who don’t “dress the part.”   What’s not ok?   Stilettos, low-cut blouses, bare legs, frumpy … Continue reading →

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Posted in Feminism and the Workplace, Legal Profession | 3 Comments

Is a Wal-Mart Law Firm Coming to Your Town?

Posted on October 30, 2009 by Bridget Crawford

Walmart plans to require its outside law firms to have flextime policies in place, according to this snippet in the ABA Journal, first reported (here) by the National Law Journal. Law firms must have flextime policies if they want to … Continue reading →

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Posted in Legal Profession | 1 Comment

Former assistant public defender found guilty of having sex with a client in return for promising to work harder on her case.

Posted on September 28, 2009 by Ann Bartow

From the (Albany NY) Times Union: … The six-member panel convicted Matthew Swedick, 39, of one misdemeanor count of official misconduct. He was acquitted on two other counts of the same charge. The case against him goes back two years … Continue reading →

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Posted in Coerced Sex, Feminism and Law, Legal Profession | 1 Comment

Ms. JD’s 3rd Annual Conference, “Avenues to Advancement”

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Bridget Crawford

Ms. JD Presents its Third Annual Conference on Women in the Law: Avenues to Advancement Co-sponsored by the National Association of Women Lawyers,  the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession and Young Lawyers Division, the Chicago Bar Association, and … Continue reading →

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Make sure your balls aren’t too big.

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Ann Bartow

From here: Fitness Balls Recalled by EB Brands Due to Fall Hazard; New Assembly Instructions Provided WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following … Continue reading →

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Posted in Bloggenpheffer, Legal Profession | Comments Off on Make sure your balls aren’t too big.

Did Texas execute an innocent man?

Posted on September 1, 2009 by Ann Bartow

Read this chilling New Yorker article about Cameron Todd Willingham to understand why this is a very real possibility. I do have to quibble with the description by one expert of a very questionable theory about arson propounded by two … Continue reading →

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Posted in Acts of Violence, Feminism and Law, Legal Profession | Comments Off on Did Texas execute an innocent man?

Sex Stereotyping, Legal Research and Feminist Activism

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Ann Bartow

[From Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis student Amelia Deibert] I thought you all would be interested in an experience I had with Westlaw recently: I  was  researching  cross-examination tactics, and I happened upon an American Jurisprudence Trials article … Continue reading →

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Posted in Academia, Feminism and Law, Guest Blogger, Legal Profession | 1 Comment

“Resources for Lawyers with Substance Abuse Questions”

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Ann Bartow

From Leadership, Women, Lawyers: Here are resources specifically for lawyers with substance abuse questions, in all 50 states and DC: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland … Continue reading →

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Hang in there Bar Exam takers…

Posted on July 28, 2009 by Ann Bartow
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Adrienne Suarez’s Code of Ethics for Female Attorneys

Posted on July 2, 2009 by Bridget Crawford

Ms. JD reports (here) on Adrienne Suarez’s “Code of Ethics for Female Attorneys.” 1.      I pledge to respect the female attorneys who came before me, because their paths were steeper, rougher, and unfamiliar.   I pledge to respect … Continue reading →

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Posted in Legal Profession | 1 Comment

Sonia Sotomayor’s Personal History: Why It Matters

Posted on June 3, 2009 by Katherine Franke

There has been much made of Sonia Sotomayor’s life, her Puerto Rican background, her modest, if not poor, childhood, her mother, what her Latina-ness means to her, her involvement in civil rights organizations, etc.   It’s both a big part … Continue reading →

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Posted in Academia, Courts and the Judiciary, Feminism and Law, Firsts, Law Schools, Legal Profession, Race and Racism | Comments Off on Sonia Sotomayor’s Personal History: Why It Matters

“… women still account, on average, for fewer than one in five big-firm partners.”

Posted on June 1, 2009 by Ann Bartow

From The American Lawyer: … Looking specifically at gender diversity, our analysis found that women made up 34 percent of lawyers at the firms we surveyed: 45 percent of nonpartners and 19 percent of partners. It’s a respectable but not … Continue reading →

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Posted in Legal Profession, Race and Racism, The Underrepresentation of Women | Comments Off on “… women still account, on average, for fewer than one in five big-firm partners.”

Dumb Warning Labels

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Ann Bartow

“Warning: This product moves when used” (on a Razor scooter) “Use care when operating a car or dangerous machinery” (on a bottle of dog’s pills) Via.

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For all the newly minted JDs…

Posted on May 23, 2009 by Ann Bartow

Via.

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Delaware Chief Judge emails “soft porn” to former clerks

Posted on May 3, 2009 by rrobson

 Myron Steele, Chief Judge of the Delaware, is reported here to have used his government email account to forward a “suggestive video”  which “depicts a professional-looking young woman in a bar competing with a glamorous blonde for the attention of … Continue reading →

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Posted in Academia, Courts and the Judiciary, Justice?, Legal Profession | 1 Comment

Another post about Posner, this time making reference to a generally lubricous glass-based material containing an appreciable amount of an oxide of boron.

Posted on April 27, 2009 by Ann Bartow

Check out “Judge Posner at the Federal Circuit: Patent on Sex Aid is Obvious” at Patently-O if you want to read about Posner’s take on the patentability of adapting easy-slide thermometer materials for use on sex toys. Here’s the abstract … Continue reading →

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Posted in Bloggenpheffer, Feminism and Technology, Legal Profession | Comments Off on Another post about Posner, this time making reference to a generally lubricous glass-based material containing an appreciable amount of an oxide of boron.

Drawings About Women and the Law

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Bridget Crawford

Don’t miss this deliciously pretty [if a bit Second Wave] series of drawings and musings about women and the law from today’s NY Times by April Kalman.   -Darren Rosenblum

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Student Health Insurance Available for up to One Year after Graduation

Posted on April 22, 2009 by Bridget Crawford

The ABA Law Student Division circulated this information today for graduating students who need health insurance:   Numerous graduating third year law students who are either currently unemployed or on deferred employment have inquired about the availability of health insurance … Continue reading →

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Posted in Law Schools, Legal Profession | 1 Comment

Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law Firms

Posted on April 4, 2009 by Bridget Crawford

Representatives from 30+ law firms in Chicago have formed the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law Firms: The Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law Firms is a non-profit membership association bringing together women’s initiatives in law firms of all sizes … Continue reading →

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Client’s use of eff word gets lawyer sanctioned.

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Ann Bartow

From here: A federal judge has levied sanctions of more than $29,000 on a lawyer and his client after finding that a deposition was a “spectacular failure” because of the client’s constant use of vulgar language and insults and dodging … Continue reading →

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“Southern Chiconomics”

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Ann Bartow

One of my fantastic former students has a cool new blog!

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Posted in Feminism and Law, Legal Profession, South Carolina, Women and Economics | Comments Off on “Southern Chiconomics”

Report on Global Arc of Justice Conference

Posted on March 18, 2009 by Bridget Crawford

Last week the Williams Institute and the International Lesbian and Gay Law Association convened the Global Arc of Justice Conference in Los Angeles.   With participants from forty countries, the conference seems to be the most nationally-diverse gathering of LGBT … Continue reading →

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“An Ohio city court says it will only accept new case filings from people who bring their own paper.”

Posted on March 15, 2009 by Ann Bartow

Yeesh. The Columbus Dispatch reports: A Morrow County court is going BYOP: Bring your own paper. The Municipal Court that handles civil, small claims, criminal and traffic cases won’t accept new case filings starting Monday because it’s almost out of … Continue reading →

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Posted on March 14, 2009 by Ann Bartow

Via.

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“Deconstructing the First Year: How Law School Experiences Lead to Misunderstandings of What Lawyers Do”

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Ann Bartow

Great post you should read by this title at Clinicians With Not Enough To Do.

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Lolita Buckner Inniss, “On Being a Black Woman Lawyer (Or, The Sound of Silence)”

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Ann Bartow

Read her essay by this title here. It begins: There are right now two lawsuits being prosecuted by black women lawyers that are quietly making their way around the Internet. A little too quietly for my taste. …

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Posted in Academia, Feminism and Law, Feminist Blogs Of Interest, Feminists in Academia, Law Schools, Legal Profession, Race and Racism | Comments Off on Lolita Buckner Inniss, “On Being a Black Woman Lawyer (Or, The Sound of Silence)”

Hang in there, Justice Ginsburg

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Ann Bartow

Our thoughts and warmest wishes are with you.

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Mindbugs: The Psychology of Ordinary Prejudice February 13, 2009 – Boston, MA (ABA Midyear Meeting)

Posted on February 3, 2009 by Ann Bartow

Mindbugs: The Psychology of Ordinary Prejudice Speaker: Professor Mahzarin Banaji, Richard Clarke Cabot Professor of Social Ethics, Department of Psychology, Harvard University Prejudiced? Of course, we all are. Though we may believe that our own views are not affected by … Continue reading →

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