For those of us who have memories of events past, this has been a difficult couple of weeks (ignoring the dreadful weather that most of us have faced recently). First, the death of Gloria Steinem, a vocal and visible symbol of equal rights, not just for women. And then the 25th anniversary (although not the right word for such a horror) of 9/11. Do you realize that we are living history for generations to come?
What I learned from Steinem (and I know there are others who disagree) was the concept of choice: that I had the power and the right to choose what was best for me, not for anyone else, but for me. Whatever a woman decided to do, wanted to do, chose to do; it was about a woman’s autonomy, a novel concept in the 1970s and yes, even today.
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In those days, we saw many women enter law school (and do very well, BTW), we were always told that we were usurping those seats that “belonged” to men. The same criticism was leveled at women in medical school, MBAs, or seeking other advanced degrees. The condescending tone was “why bother? You are just going to get married and have kids.” Thank you for sharing. We fought hard and long to have choices, choices that 47 is happily eviscerating with his perpetual smirk.
I am a member of the “second wave” of feminism. Steinem was the most visible symbol for that era and succeeding ones as well. We were the first generation of women who learned that we were just as capable as men, could do the same jobs as men, and that the whole world could be ours. It was in the 1970s that women started to storm barricades, too numerous to mention. It was in the 1970s that we learned that “Ms.” was the preferred salutation for women, regardless of marital status. It was in that decade that women were able to get credit on their own, regardless of marital status. It was then that “help wanted” ads were no longer classified by sex.
We could, at last, start to dream, after being pigeonholed as secretaries, clerks, and in the typing pool. We could start to make those dreams realities, and Steinem had much to do with our abilities to do just that. It must not have been easy for her, the past 10 years, for her to see much of what she had advocated and pushed for, along with many others, fall prey to dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion. It took so long for women to reach as far as we have. And please don’t insult my intelligence by saying that DEI is not on the ropes, even for any institution brave enough to fight the good fight.
Everyone who was alive and sentient on September 11, 2001, has their own recollections about what happened that day. As a dinosaur lawyer, I will never forget that day, just as I will never forget the days of the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, the Rev. Martin Luther King, and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. Some memories are not just memories; they are mind etchings. Three of the four hijacked planes were destined for Los Angeles, the fourth, San Francisco. We are obligated to not erase those memories, but to share them. Just as we have responsibilities to “pay things forward,” we have the obligation to keep those memories alive. As remaining Holocaust survivors die, as the last soldiers of World War II die, those of us who remember life-changing events of the second half of the twentieth century are also approaching the ends of our lives. (Sorry, not sorry.) As Proust said, “Remembrance of things past is not necessarily the remembrance of things as they were.” True enough.
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I don’t think it’s really much of a surprise that lawyers are more miserable than previously thought. Practicing law can be detrimental to our health. Should there be a warning label plastered on law school acceptances? Given current law school tuition, should students understand what they are getting into? Not just mountains of debt, but health issues. What about bar licenses? By the way, as much as I have loved practicing law, it has definitely affected my health and not in a good way.
Is being more miserable today really any surprise? It shouldn’t be.
Let’s run down some of the issues that freak us out today: AI, business development, AI, nasty clients, AI, nasty opposing counsel, AI, discovery (both propounding and responding), AI, billings, AI, collections, AI, intra-firm issues, in-house corporate maneuvering, cranky judges, incivility. And did I mention AI?
Jill Switzer has been an active member of the State Bar of California for over 40 years. She remembers practicing law in a kinder, gentler time. She’s had a diverse legal career, including stints as a deputy district attorney, a solo practice, and several senior in-house gigs. She now mediates full-time, which gives her the opportunity to see dinosaurs, millennials, and those in-between interact — it’s not always civil. You can reach her by email at [email protected].