NY Bar Association Assembles Male Lawyers to Tell Lady Lawyers How They Can Do Better

[marmar]

NY Bar Association Assembles Male Lawyers to Tell Lady Lawyers How They Can Do Better

Posted by Jill Filipovic, Feministe at 3:00 PM on January 18, 2010.

An annual meeting of the Bar Association was set to include two panels devoted to female attorneys: "What's Our Problem?" and "Tips From the Other Side."




Here’s a great idea: Invite a bunch of lawyers to an annual meeting of the Bar association. At the meeting, have two panels devoted to female attorneys: One titled "What’s Our Problem?," featuring lady-lawyers discussing "a changing legal market where competition is tougher and expectations are higher" for women who "are currently in or are looking to re-enter the legal field" (because we leave to have babies!), followed by a panel titled "Their Point of View: Tips From the Other Side," where "A distinguished panel of gentlemen from the legal field will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of women in the areas of communication, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, organization, and women's overall management of their legal work."

Got that, ladies? We'll start the day by asking "What's Our Problem?" and discussing all the issues facing us and all the ways we’re sucking in our careers, and then a distinguished panel of gentlemen will tell us how we suck but where we're also good, and then they'll fix our problems. I was personally hoping they would also give us a talking-to about office-appropriate attire, but maybe next year.

Now, don't get me wrong -- I’m sure that both panels would have helpful information. I'm sure that the distinguished gentlemen on the second panel are indeed distinguished, and are probably very smart and nice people who do genuinely want to help female lawyers. And female lawyers do face specific challenges in our field. But the Bar association really framed this one poorly. And maybe we would face fewer challenges if it wasn't always assumed that we're the ones with the problem.

The Bar association has modified the panels in response to the uproar from female attorneys, because "Unfortunately, the important objectives of this panel have been overshadowed by issues raised as to the topic description and the composition of the panel." The second, formerly all-male panel now features both men and women. But I still wonder when we can expect the New York State Bar Association to feature a panel of men asking, “What’s Our Problem?” and discussing all the ways that men as a whole could be better at their jobs -- whether they’re currently in or looking to re-enter the field -- followed by a panel of women explaining it all.


http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/145255/ny_bar_association_assembles_male_lawyers_to_tell_lady_lawyers_how_they_can_do_better/

[Rage for Order]

1. Boy, this ought to be good!

:popcorn:

[Lars39]

2. I hope they get eviscerated.

The fucking arrogance... :grr:

[madaboutharry]

3. This is what I have to say about this plan:

:mad:

[brooklynite]

4. My wife is the head of one of the NYSBA groups...

Not sure she was in need of any help.

[EFerrari]

13. This should be filed under "Ideas that seemed cute on paper".

lol

[CTyankee]

5. dear god...beyond belief. I would come and set the place on fire...

nt

[aquart]

6. My mother has a matchbook collection.

I'm sure she would donate to your cause.

[CTyankee]

7. If my dear mother were still alive, she'd be right their with yours!

All us TOB's (tough old birds) have to stand together...

[aquart]

8. But, understand, I personally favor the evisceration suggestion.

A display of extracted viscera can be helpful in making a point.

[CTyankee]

14. Or perhaps "zee garotte!" nt

[monmouth]

9. Funny...I see male lawyers getting arrested down here for everything

from "borrowing" from various trusts, DUIs, etc. Haven't seen a female lawyer arrested or even brought on the legal carpet for any offenses. Funny that, eh? So glad I'm retired, really.

[wellstone dem]

10. Now that women make up half the students or more in most law schools

Perhaps there should be a session for distinguished male lawyers called "welcome to the real world."

[LuckyLib]

11. Let's add some breakout sessions to their agenda: (1) How not to be an asshole in the workplace;

(2) Why is it that you can dominate every conversation of which you are a part?
(3) Male attorneys: setting the bar so low
(4) What you can learn from women's interaction styles

Others?

[niyad]

12. and there are people who say sexism and patriarchy don't exist.

[seabeyond]

15. yup. nt