The issue of women lawyers leaving Big Law to go to smaller firms or other jobs using their legal skills was highlighted in The National Law Journal June 2007 edition. A follow up article in the Wall Street Journal law blog has created lively discussion.
There seems to me to be law firm marketing issues that haven't so far been mentioned in the comments. Surely it can't be good for a firm's employer brand if the number of senior women is reduced?
In the UK more than half the traininee solicitors are now women. I know a successful regional firm where the partners are concerned about the difficulty of persuading women with young children to become partners. They are interested from an employer brand standpoint. There is also a concern that they are reducing the pool of associates from which partners with good management as well as technical skills can be found.
Read the WSJ article and discussion here
Read the orginal article at the National Law Journal (free trial subscription)
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