This past week I attended court for the first time in my three years in law school. Actually attending a real court has not been part of any of my courses to date, so this was an event that was particularly interesting. I was attending an evidentiary hearing in federal court, after having written the analysis of an important change of facts in the case. The hearing was before a female judge, and both the plaintiffs’ attorneys are female, as well. When the defendant’s attorneys arrived, there were two men and one woman. It was obvious that their plan was to have the woman speak for the group. It was also obvious that she was the less-experienced attorney of the team, and her male colleagues essentially fed her arguments as the hearing progressed. While every young attorney must have her first chance at first chair, I couldn’t help but wonder if this strategy was playing “the gender card.”

Each week during our internship, the legal staff has an “Intern CLE,” or some sort of legal lecture. Sometimes we watch a video on some aspect of public interest law, followed by a Q&A with an attorney practicing in that field. It may be someone working in criminal defense, legal aid, a lobbyist, or a legislative aide. We even watched Good Night, and Good Luck. The interns get to learn a little about other areas of public interest law, and can network with attorneys in other non-profits. And it serves as a little break in an otherwise intensive work week.

We were fortunate to have Rob Owen, clinical professor in the University of Texas Death Penalty Clinic, speak to us on a recent Friday. He gave us a brief history of the Clinic, and of his involvement in Death Row cases. Some readers may be in states that have not had any executions since the reinstitution of the death penalty, but Texas seems to be the leader in that dubious fraternity. As Prof. Owen talked about the cases, the attitude of courts and the public, and the clients themselves, I began to wonder how someone “hangs in” while doing that sort of work.

Being an older woman in entering the legal profession has been an interesting experience. It is difficult to determine if my experiences are more a factor of my gender or my age, but I know that my experiences have been significantly different from those of my son, with whom I am attending the same law school in the same class. Having a background as a professor in another professional school dominated by women, I see considerable differences in how women are treated and welcomed to the profession.