Sexual Harassment, Women's Issues

The Pink Ghetto: Biglaw Sexual Harassment Stories Emerge In The Days Following The Harvey Weinstein Scandal

It's disgusting when Biglaw partners behave like this and aren't punished.

By  
on

Welcome 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. While we’ve heard of countless tales of sexual harassment that have occurred in law firms across the country, this one is striking. Today, we’ll take a look at the ways law firm partners’ sexual harassment of young associates is reminiscent of the recent Harvey Weinstein scandal. This is a real email that we’ve received from a real reader.

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 to future generations of women in the law.

The Weinstein stories are reminding me in many ways of my days as a young associate at an old line “white shoe” law firm. I was in my 20s and well aware of my luck in getting such a plum job. In the 90s, there was no term for “sexual harrassment.”

At one point, I was assigned a deal with a corporate partner who was very powerful and respected. The power balance was him: 100, me: 0. We were closing a deal in Dallas, and I was instructed to meet him at a restaurant a 20 minute cab ride from our hotel. It was my first “real deal” and my first out-of-town trip with a partner. I got out of the cab and found myself in a busy parking lot with a lot of drunk guys in boots and cowboy hats acting rowdy. Inside the restaurant, I was introduced to the client and I had the feeling all through dinner that they had some kind of private joke about me — lots of winks and leering behavior.

After dinner, two girls came over and began to administer what I learned later were called “lap dances.” It was then that I realized I was the only fully clothed woman in the place. The dances became steamy and the two of them seemed to thoroughly enjoy my discomfort. I had never seen or heard of anything like that before. In my head I’m thinking: “At what point do I just get up and leave?” and “At some point do I just say enough?” and… “Is any job worth this?” But then, “Who would I tell? What would I SAY? Do I want this job?” My dad’s voice in my head told me I was of value, I had dignity, and at some point it IS enough! So I got up, said, “Gentlemen, I’ll be leaving you now,” and the world didn’t end.

I made my way through the parking lot of drunken cowboys and by some miracle, somehow found a cab to my hotel. Hours later, 3 a.m. or so, a knock at my room door. It was my partner asking to come in or, alternatively, asking me to come out for a drink. I said no politely, and the next day we closed as if nothing had occurred.

I never told my story because I was terrified of what would happen if I did. For years, I thought of mailing an anonymous letter to the firm’s HR or Exec Committee about it, but never did. I often wish I had just met with the head of the firm. I heard he became the head of corporate, but later that my partner had been forced out of the firm. He is at a different shop now, no doubt victimizing other young employees. To this day I feel horrible for any other young female associates who may have experienced unwanted attention — or worse — that my speaking out might have prevented.

I feel the pain, anger, and regret that some women in Hollywood have expressed over the Weinstein affair. All I can say is that behavior like that hurts a lot of people and their families. Hollywood is one field, but I think other industries like Biglaw, universities, investment banking, or financial services need to do some soul searching. Any organization with their own Harvey Weinsteins need to eject them, with extreme prejudice. And women need to speak up. I should have.

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, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Sponsored

Topics

, , , , , ,