Farewell, Ally McBeal; Enter the Litigatrix
That's the title of our latest column for the New York Observer, which reflects upon recent television and film portrayals of women litigators.
It touches upon some of the same themes highlighted in Amy Kolz's excellent American Lawyer article from last year, but it's more focused on fictional female litigators, as opposed to real-life ones. Here's how it starts:
Whatever happened to Ally McBeal? If recent movies and television shows are any guide, the life of a female lawyer has gotten a lot less pleasant since the carefree, charmingly neurotic days of dancing babies and bathroom kisses. But today's portrayals may be more accurate, and certainly more critically acclaimed.Last January, Glenn Close won a Golden Globe for her compelling performance as Patty Hewes, a fearsome and wildly successful plaintiff's lawyer, on the addictive TV show Damages. The following month, Tilda Swinton snagged an Oscar for stepping into the pumps of Karen Crowder, a hard-charging in-house litigator, in Michael Clayton.
In March, Julianna Margulies (of ER) returned to television as aggressive defense lawyer Elizabeth Canterbury, the title character of Canterbury's Law. Even Katey Sagal, who embodied the famously vulgar Peggy Bundy on Married With Children, reincarnated herself this year as Marci Klein, the sleek, powerful, and ruthless founding partner of the law firm on Eli Stone.
You can read the full column over here.
Farewell, Ally McBeal; Enter the Litigatrix [New York Observer]
(8) Comments
can someone tell me a little bit about how biglaw travel works? firstclass/businessclass all/msot of the time?
3:16 - Yes, if you work for a halfway decent firm.
Ally McBeal is a product of the 90's, when everyone was convinced that there would be economic growth to infinity and no one in the world would ever hurt the US. Now, we have a more realisitc view of foreign policy, economics, and yes, the miserable lives of female attorneys.
Who is this first ass? My job at a small firm is boring and fairly useless but if I could troll all day long here posting first...and in fact choose to spend my time doing that I'd just quit. The sad is that whether or not he/she is some BigLaw atty anking over $200k or a bored 2 or 3L its still a disgrace. If he/she is just not in law to begin with...even sadder.
"Even Katey Sagal, who embodied the famously vulgar Peggy Bundy on Married With Children, reincarnated herself this year as Marci Klein, the sleek, powerful, and ruthless founding partner of the law firm on Eli Stone."
Let's not overlook the Leela interregnum, which some (e.g., I) might argue was the high point of Ms. Segal's career.
Katey Sagal as an attorney? She'd only really be good as a cartoon cyclops attorney. Make it happen Hollywood!
Tilda's character was accurate. She gained weight for the role and hence was pear shaped; not a decision maker, let alone a good one; not reaping real rewards of her sacrifice; unable to manage people well; and overall not someone you'd like as your mother or wife or daughter or friend.
Basically, lawyer is no longer an interesting job nor a job for interesting women. Enjoy the seamlessweb belly/butt, the lack of an engaging daytoday worklife, and no respect from the opposite sex.
tilda swinton's character was hardly "hard-charging." she was an embarrassment to female lawyers and female professionals in general. she was the only female character in the movie and the only character who was not assertive, confident, or competent. the movie promoted the stereotype that female lawyers should not be in positions of power because they are insecure, indecisive, and will crack under pressure.