About a Third of Newly Promoted BigLaw Partners Are Women

About a third of the lawyers who obtained BigLaw partnership promotions so far this year are women, though several firms fell well below the average. The American Lawyer tallied the percentages. So far, 97 of the nation’s top 200 law firms have announced 973 partner promotions for 2012. Twenty of…

Jan 18, 2012 11:30 AM CST

Advancement of Women Lawyers: Barriers Must Be Removed so Female Attorneys Can Equally Participate

Jan 1, 2012 10:29 AM CST

She-roes: Women Strive to Promote Their Own in Silicon Valley IP Law

Jan 1, 2012 8:39 AM CST

The Rules (for Women): Steps May Be Unspoken But They Are Necessary, Successful Partners Say

Jan 1, 2012 7:50 AM CST

IT Professional at Latham Is One of the ‘Midnight Moms’

Working supermoms who can’t find the time to get everything done are particularly sleep-deprived around Christmas time. The Washington Post chronicles the phenomenon of “midnight moms” and includes an information technology professional at Latham & Watkins as an example. “While visions of sugarplums dance in everyone else’s heads, these moms…

Dec 20, 2011 11:30 AM CST

SEC Also Looks at General Counsel in Civil Investigation of Hedge Fund

In an unusual move that is catching the attention of in-house lawyers, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has put the general counsel of a hedge fund on the hot seat. GC Robin Roger of Phillip Falcone’s Harbinger Capital Partners received a Wells Notice today alerting her that she could…

Dec 12, 2011 3:14 PM CST

UT Law Dean Asked to Resign over ‘Divided Atmosphere’ Caused by Faculty Largesse

The dean at the University of Texas law school has moved up his planned resignation at the request of the school’s president. Law dean Lawrence Sager acknowledges he was asked to resign, and he’s complying immediately, report Texas Lawyer, the Austin American-Statesman and the Texas Tribune. UT president William Powers…

Dec 9, 2011 5:01 PM CST

NM Judge to Retire; Disciplinary Case Accused Her of Failing to Follow Rules in Multiple Matters

A New Mexico judge who formerly chaired the state Probate Judge’s Commission has agreed to step down and retire rather than face disciplinary action for her alleged mishandling of cases. Las Cruces Magistrate Court Judge Olivia Nevarez Garcia, 69, who is married to the state higher education secretary, will take…

Nov 29, 2011 6:29 PM CST

BigLaw Firm’s Innovative Buddy Program Helps Lawyers Stay Connected During Maternity Leave

A major law firm in Canada has developed an innovative buddy program to help women lawyers stay connected to their careers while they are on maternity leave. Partner Tara Piurko of McCarthy Tétrault, for example, regularly met with her buddy attorney, along with her baby, for lunch, reports the Globe…

Nov 19, 2011 1:47 AM CST

Is Ann Taylor Store a ‘Necessary Expedition’ for Female Attorneys in DC?

In Washington, D.C., Ann Taylor is the go-to store for women in big jobs—including lawyers. That’s the conclusion of the Washington Post, which questions whether the store is a kind of “Garanimals for grown-ups.” The article observes that Ann Taylor has become “a necessary expedition” for professional women ranging from…

Nov 17, 2011 2:29 PM CST

Have Women’s Law School Numbers Peaked? NAWL Report Suggests the Pipeline May Be Shrinking

The percentage of newer female associates at the nation’s top law firms has dropped by only a single point, but the National Association of Women Lawyers sees significance in the change. Women make up 47 percent of first- and second-year associates, down from 48 percent in prior years, according to…

Nov 10, 2011 3:30 PM CST

Legal Secretary Study’s Findings Spark Controversy, Engender Debate

Please see this note from the ABA Journal Board of Editors. There are four patterns of gender bias, according to University of California at Hastings law professor Joan Williams. There is one she calls “gender wars”—when gender bias against women turns into conflict among women. It is, by far, the…

Nov 4, 2011 5:07 PM CDT

Study Author: Law Firm to Keep Status Quo in Spite of Gender Discrepancies in Performance Reviews

The co-author of a study (PDF) that found that a Wall Street law firm was giving higher numerical performance reviews to male associates than it was female associates with equally positive narrative performance reviews says the firm doesn’t intend to change anything about its performance review process. Law professor Joan…

Nov 3, 2011 6:20 PM CDT

BigLaw Firm in UK Tries New Tactic to Improve Women Leadership Numbers: 25% Quota

Women currently hold about 14 percent of the management positions at the Ashurst law firm in the United Kingdom. The firm hopes to improve those numbers by adopting a target: In three years, the firm aims to fill 25 percent of its management posts with women, Legal Week reports. The…

Oct 27, 2011 1:30 PM CDT

Study Finds Disconnect Between Numbers and Narratives in Associate Job Reviews—But Only for Women

Women lawyers who wonder why they didn’t make partner, despite glowing narratives in their performance reviews, may find some clues in a recent study. Law professor Joan Williams of the University of California at Hastings joined with two other researchers to analyze performance evaluations of 234 junior lawyers at an…

Oct 26, 2011 10:30 AM CDT