Women In The Legal Profession Continue To Be Treated Like Crap

No wonder so many women feel like they aren’t respected as attorneys -- they're not.

About one year ago, we took the time to discuss the struggles that women in the legal profession face on a seemingly daily basis. At the time, we wrote: “Whether their necklines are too low, their hair is too long, they’re giggling too much, or their maternity leave is considered an inconvenience, women lawyers aren’t taken seriously, and they certainly aren’t treated with respect by their fellow lawyers in this profession.”

Has anything changed since we last spoke about this issue? Of course it has, but unfortunately, not for the better. According to “disturbing” data from the National Association for Law Placement, women have made little progress at Biglaw firms, with the overall percentage of women associates having dropped over the course of the past five years. According to the latest study from the National Association of Women Lawyers, the gender wage gap has only grown, with the typical female equity partner earning about 80 percent of what the typical male equity partner earns.

As if that information wasn’t disheartening enough, we once again decided to reach out to our readers to gauge their experience with sexism in the legal profession. We heard from both men and women via Facebook, Twitter, and email, and the feedback we received proved just how badly lawyers need to reassess the way they interact with each other, both in the office and in the courtroom. To be frank, the way that women in the legal profession are treated by their colleagues is truly disgusting.

These are some of the worst experiences women lawyers have dealt with — by their own admission or per their male colleagues’ accounts — in terms of sexism on the job:

1. At the last firm I worked at, there was a VERY weird guy, who openly commented, like in front of everyone, about one of the paralegals’ cleavage. AT. THE. HOLIDAY. LUNCH. TABLE.

2. I wore dark purple suede heels to court. Opposing counsel asked, “Where are you dancing now?” in open court. Later that morning, he came to my office with cash in his mouth.

3. An associate in my office was told to shut up and sit down by opposing counsel during a jury trial two weeks ago.

4. I was told in an interview by the head of HR that using “Mel” instead of “Melanie” was subterfuge because it masked my gender.

5. My female friends and I are constantly asked to perform administrative tasks while men in the office are allowed to keep doing their work. I’ve heard some of them refer to us as the “binder bitches.”

6. A woman in my office is always being asked to do admin tasks (make binders, print things, enter handwritten changes to briefs, reserve conference rooms) over the dudes working on the litigation project we’re staffed on because she is “good” at organizing.

7. A male partner at my firm is constantly commenting about a female partner’s clothing being seductive because of the length of her skirt (but he said it was okay, because her legs were skinny).

8. Female associates at my firm have to take the long way to the bathroom because they’d rather do that than walk by the office of a male partner who makes crude remarks about the way they look.

9. I used to get mistaken for the court reporter when walking into depositions.

10. I’m regularly mistaken for the secretary and asked if I can grab coffee.

11. I get mistaken for the Spanish interpreter all the time, even though I’m south Asian, because I can’t possibly be an attorney, so that’s sexism and a bit of casual racism.

12. I was told I was too pretty for the job. Once, an opposing male counsel asked me out while in the middle of a proceeding.

13. I am usually called sweetie, hunny, hun, dear, miss, etc., instead of attorney — this by clients, other attorneys, and judges.

14. I had a partner at a firm I was interning at tell me, “I’ll never recommend you for any law job, you aren’t willing to take the extra steps to make me happy.” (Said as he was blatantly looking at my legs.) He then added, “Men like a little extra attention.” I bawled my eyes out and never went back.

15. Long time ago — ’80s — but clients said they didn’t want a woman lawyer assigned to their case; Judge asked, “What are you, some kind of Libber?” when I responded to his Miss or Mrs. question with Ms. My response: “I don’t see the need to disclose my marital status,” and yes, he did rule against me.

16. I practice in a local court where the non-attorney Judge blatantly ignores me when I’m speaking on the record. He doesn’t seem to have the same issue when the older male defense attorney has things to say.

Above the Law’s own Elie Mystal faced this sort of sexism while he was still working as an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton. He said, “I once had a pro bono client say he was ‘relieved’ when he saw me because, based on my name, he thought they had sent him ‘a girl.’ But, I was a bad lawyer so I totally showed him!” If only it were so easy for women.

While some of the above stories were borderline sexist, others were simply revolting. No wonder so many women feel like they aren’t respected as attorneys — they’re not. It’s absolutely shameful that we’ve come so far and yet so many women are still experiencing blatant sexism like this in the course of trying to do their jobs. It’s not right.

Sponsored

We can’t sit back and allow this to continue. When you see and hear things like this happening to women in the legal profession, speak up. Treat women in the legal profession as you would like to be treated. We have to figure out a way to combat sexism before more women are forced to flee the practice of law. We must end this cycle — now.

Earlier: Stop Treating Women Lawyers Like Crap
7 Highlights From The 2015 Survey On Retention And Promotion Of Women In Law Firms

Sponsored