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Yep. Happens alot. Get out.
Litigation practices at law firms are notorious for being boys’ clubs.
I personally would not fight to stay. Because law is such a subjective profession, no amount of winning cases will change a sexist partner’s view that women “aren’t cut out for litigation.” It’s not healthy to work around the clock for men who think like this.
There are other ways to have an amazing career. In-house is reputed to be more welcoming to women. I would explore other non-law firm jobs, and make sure there are women in leadership positions at your next job.
If you can’t find another law firm litigation group with a good environment for female litigators, there are other environments for practicing litigation.
You could try government trial or appellate work, a staff attorney/permanent clerk role at the state or federal courthouse, academia (like clinics), public interest (including Legal Aid), or an in-house litigation team (though this is harder to find).
We have no female partners in my group. Work at a V5, non-NYC but major market, and my group in this office has never had a female partner, so that says something.
Oddly (or not), we have a lot of female associates right now though. Morale is pretty low at the moment and I personally think these things are related. The EQ is low amongst the partners so we have a lot of women associates feeling extremely frustrated.
There’s general criticism of the associates from the partners that feels like they just don’t get how we often operate differently and have different communication styles, etc. from the men. It feels very unintentionally/cluelessly biased against women. For example, have heard the partners think our associates aren’t “assertive enough”, because apparently we don’t approach the partners to ask for things. 😑 Feels very gendered, even if they don’t mean it that way. I mean, yes - 25 year old women are often not going to feel comfortable randomly approaching a 45 year old male partner and to ask for opportunities. They don’t understand that women are culturally conditioned from a young age to not be demanding, not too assertive, etc. - then we get in a career like this and are criticized for not being assertive. And there’s no women partners around to notice how the women are not being given the same opportunities or mentorship that the men are. It’s incredibly frustrating.
The only women who’ve gotten close to partnership leave for in house or smaller firms because our group is not compatible with starting a family and/or they’re completely burned out, and we have no women to look up to that have made it work.
And, a likely flip side: If a female associate dots become"assertive," there's likely a razor-thin line before she is labeled an "aggressive" ...
Chief
Like our mothers and grandmothers did, fight to break those barriers as hard as you can, as long as you can. Be strong. Be tough. Imagine your daughter wanting to practice there and try to build a workplace where she would be happy.
That’s said, once you’ve fought a good fight, if you’re miserable, it’s OK to move on and find somewhere you’re happy.
Yes. I have to play the game. Be the token women, it’s gross, but it’ll get you there
Not every group is like this (though it’s more common than it should be). Get out.