Sexism, Sexual Harassment, Women's Issues

The Pink Ghetto: Disgusting Displays Of Sexual Harassment At Law Firms

No, a partner shouldn't be critiquing your work in front of you with a raging boner.

By  
on

law firm harassmentWelcome back to The Pink Ghetto, a series where we take a look at some of the most appalling stories from one of the most sexist industries in the world: the legal profession. Today, we’ll take a look at more instances of the sexism and sexual harassment women are subjected to in their careers as lawyers. These are real emails that we’ve received from real readers.

When you see things like this happening, say something. Together, we can inspire the change necessary to stop this disturbing behavior from being so prevalent in the law. We owe it to ourselves and future generations.

At a prior firm, my boss would berate my work product with a visible erection tenting his pants. At a second firm, I was informed that the file clerk would be leaving due to the managing partner’s sexual advances on her — a week into the job. I finally found a firm where I do not feel “different” because I’m a woman. But then again, I’m one of seven female attorneys in a nine-attorney firm!

I worked for a now-international employment law boutique. When I made partner there, I was so proud. It was the culmination of years of hard work and capped my prior accomplishments such as becoming a National Merit Scholar and making Law Review.

I could not have been more excited about my first partners’ meeting at the firm. We gathered in an old southern city and participated in meetings ranging from inspiring to deadly dull. The evening was to be an opportunity to socialize with one’s fellow partners, laying the groundwork for referring work to each other for years to come (such referrals being key to law firm survival). You might imagine my surprise upon finding that a large number of my fellow partners would be spending the evening at a strip club. So, I could go to the strip club or lose an opportunity to have my fellow partners know me. Of course, I went to the strip club that night.

Again, this was at one of this country’s leading EMPLOYMENT LAW firms, one that of course touts its commitment to diversity. And it happened in the last 10 years, not in the 1950s.

Sponsored

A managing partner told me and the only other female associate at the (50+ attorney) firm that he does not like hiring women because they “just get pregnant and need time off or flexible work schedules.” The managing partner preferred to send male attorneys to court on contentious appearances because they were “bigger and more intimidating” than women. Last but not least, women at the firm were not allowed to attend accident site inspections because we might “distract” the male construction workers on site. Men were sent in our place, even on our own cases.

I have been asked out in court by adversaries and when I commented that it was inappropriate, one fellow said that he was unaware there were geographical boundaries on asking women out on dates.

Do you have a law school or law firm story you’d like to see appear in The Pink Ghetto? Email me (subject line: “The Pink Ghetto”) or find me on Twitter, @StaciZaretsky. You will be kept anonymous. Submissions are always welcome.

Sponsored

Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky has been an editor at Above the Law since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Topics

, , , , ,