Lawyers

Book Review: My Mom, The Lawyer

Every once in a while a book is sent to me that's completely off-topic, but nevertheless catches my interest.

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Sometimes I review books in this column, and more often  than not, they’re about issues relating to the intersection of law and technology. But every once in a while a book is sent to me that’s completely off-topic, but nevertheless catches my interest. The children’s book, “My Mom, the Lawyer,” is a perfect example.

The book is authored by Michelle Browning Coughlin, an IP and data privacy lawyer from Louisville, Kentucky — who happens to be a mom. She’s also the founder of Mothers Esquire, a nonprofit organization devoted to gender equity in the legal profession, with a particular emphasis on support and advocacy for mothers and other caregiving lawyers.

When I was contacted about reviewing this book and offered a complimentary copy, I immediately agreed. After all, I’m a lawyer and a mother of teenagers — and I’ve struggled to juggle the demands of my career with my parental obligations for nearly two decades. So even though this book has absolutely nothing to do with technology, it’s still right up my alley.

From the start, I had great expectations for this book and eagerly awaited its arrival. And I’m happy to report that when I finally got my hands on it two weeks ago, it was exactly what I hoped it would be.

For starters, it’s got great, colorful illustrations of mom-lawyers from all walks of life interacting with their children. Every mother and child will relate to those pictured in this book and feel as if it’s directed right at them. It’s incredibly representative, with images of people from many races, nationalities, religions, and disabilities.

The plethora of jobs that require a law degree are discussed and explained using clear, simple descriptions. The career paths covered run the gamut and include law student, law professor, litigator, appellate lawyer, in-house counsel, transactional attorney, military lawyer, solo attorney, family lawyer, politician, judge, and even a lawyer-mom on maternity leave.

Not only does the book do a great job of discussing the many career paths that lawyers take, it also helps children understand the importance and impact of their mothers’ work. The author explains how lawyers solve problems that help people, and thus make their communities — and the world — a better place.

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An emphasis is placed on how hard people work to become lawyers and on the skills needed to be successful as a lawyer, such as intelligence and hard work, oral and written advocacy, and decision-making capabilities. The author also emphasizes the positive impact that all of that hard work has on communities and the lawyer-moms’ families, too.

Importantly, the book also addresses the impact of working parents on families. Topics covered include: 1) going to work with mom and coloring quietly in her office while she works, 2) the fact the lawyer-moms sometimes come home late from work, 3) that lawyer-moms sometimes travel, and 4) that sometimes lawyer-moms work while the other parent stays at home with the kids.

That lawyer-moms’ schedules sometimes conflict with family events is mentioned, with the narrator, a child, explaining that as a result other family members occasionally attend school-related events that may conflict with the lawyer-mom’s work obligations — and that that’s OK. I particularly liked how the author interspersed the reality of the impact of work obligations on family life with references to the many fun and caring interactions that lawyer-moms have with their children.

I found the focus on the realities of having a lawyer-mom to be one of the best parts of the book, since it helps the children of lawyer-moms understand that lots of other families with lawyer-moms are out there. Importantly, it shows that their experience with having a mom who happens to be a lawyer isn’t unusual, and that lawyer-moms are great role models — and great moms.

So if you’re a lawyer-mom or have someone on your holiday gift list who is, then what are you waiting for? Buy a copy of this book today, and rest easy knowing that not only is this book the perfect gift, all proceeds benefit Mothers Esquire. It’s a win-win! What could be better than that?

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Nicole Black is a Rochester, New York attorney and Director of Business and Community Relations at MyCase, web-based law practice management software. She’s been blogging since 2005, has written a weekly column for the Daily Record since 2007, is the author of Cloud Computing for Lawyers, co-authors Social Media for Lawyers: the Next Frontier, and co-authors Criminal Law in New York. She’s easily distracted by the potential of bright and shiny tech gadgets, along with good food and wine. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikiblack and she can be reached at niki.black@mycase.com.

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