I recently attended a professional event where I was mistaken for an assistant and overlooked in a decision-making conversation as a result. When I spoke up, the person in question commented, “but you look too young to be a Director.” Admittedly, this comment caused me a moment – okay, multiple moments – of self-doubt. I began questioning myself, asking “Do others look at me and assume the same?” or “Should I be older to hold my current position?” and “Do those around me assume I am not capable due to my age?” After some self-reflection, I was able to calm the little voices in my head. I focused on reminding myself why I am deserving of the position I hold and contemplating both my successes and failures that have brought me here. During this reflection, I found the following considerations…

The “motherhood penalty” is unfortunately not a new concept, but it is gaining increasing attention in large part thanks to reports such as this one published by the American Bar Association that focus on the unique features of this penalty in the legal profession. The report itself is a must-read.  It synthesizes empirical data derived from a survey of over 8,100 lawyers in all practice settings and 10 focus groups.  It is thoroughly researched, insightful, and takes an intersectional approach to a concept that is often considered only from the gendered perspective. The report validates the anxieties, fears, and doubts I experienced when returning to the profession from maternity leave.  Even under ideal circumstances, mothers (disproportionately to fathers as suggested by the authors) face barriers to remaining in the practice of law.  Child care is grossly expensive and in short…

Recently, I made a mistake. I received an e-mail from one of the partners at our firm. “You filled out the wrong form.” Maybe it was my articling student neurosis – that cumulative, low-lying fear of damaging one’s emerging reputation and potential for hire back – but I felt more stress than the situation warranted. A panel of my inner self-critics promptly convened. “She is going to think you are incompetent.” My body tensed up. The thought echoed around in my head. Enter stage right: the angel on my other shoulder. “Don’t be ridiculous. It was a silly mistake that you can fix.” For some reason, even my better angel possessed a judgmental tone. To distract myself, I kept calm and carried on with whatever I had been working on, but the battle of my inner critics raged on in…

Dear LiL: I’m a mid-level lawyer in a setting where I love the work and my team, but there are no current opportunities to advance my career due to the structure of my workplace and there may not be for a few years. How do you know when to stick it out and fight for recognition or move on to (hopefully) greener pastures? Dear Greener pastures – thanks for your query to our blog. I don’t know the nature of the position that you are in, but I recommend you looking at your career in a wholistic way and I’d like to offer some general thoughts on career advancement. Advancement as legal counsel can take all sorts of forms beyond a title. Wherever you are and in whatever position you occupy as a lawyer your focus should be on advancing your…

Most law students come to law school with an undergraduate degree. Law Schools will tell you that there is no preferred degree for admission so you can apply with a B. A., a B. Comm., an engineering degree or anything else. A few also enter law school with work experience, having worked full-time. From my experience in law school many years ago, it seemed that most students entering law school had studied arts or commerce or some similar subject. In my class, there were many students with degrees in philosophy. They were outspoken in class, articulate and spoke often of Kant, who I had never heard of. I came from an entirely different and non-traditional direction, entering law school with a nursing degree. I had studied anatomy and organic chemistry; not philosophy or economics. I had never been on a…