Avoiding the Mommy Track: How Does Having a Family Affect Your Career

Editor's Note: Ms. JD's annual conference, Avenues to Advancement, was held November 20-21, 2009, in Chicago. These are six tips from the Motherhood panel.

One of the biggest questions a young female lawyer often wants to know is how having a family will affect her career.  Our panelists spoke candidly about how having families has affected their careers and offered tips for being having both a busy career and a busy family.  Below are six pieces of advice the panelists offered for making sure that having a family does not alter the career path you want to take.

1.  Make yourself missable.

Yes, this sounds a bit corny, but the premise is very important.  If you make yourself an integral part of the team and establish a reputation for doing the best work, then when you have to be out of the office for a period of time, you’ll be missed, not replaced.  

2.  Stay connected

Before you have a child, do things to stay connected to your co-workers and your supervisors.  Get your name out there and when you’re away, keep in touch with your network.  If you already have children, use your network as much as you need so you don’t miss out on the good work and the best opportunities.

3.  Find a mentor who will advocate on your behalf

This is very important.  If early on you establish connections with mentors who have leadership positions in your company or workplace, you can be assured that your name will stay in the game.  So find someone who wants to help you out, prove to that person you’re worth helping and then keep in close contact to ensure your name is the one being said when important work is being handed out and promotions are being considered.

4.  Manage your workload.

Moving up in a company or organization is about quality of work, not quantity.  Consider the difference between document review and contributing to a brief.  Sure, you may not always get the best work, but make sure you are doing work that advances your career to balance the work that may be more monotonous.  And when you have less interesting work, think about ways you can make the job you’re doing a more integral part of the bigger picture.

5. Build a strong support system.

Whether it is family, coworkers or friends, remember that you may have to rely on your support system a lot as you build your career.  So find a group of people that can help ease your load, whether it is at work or at home.

6.  Realize that your life may not take the path you expected.

As in so many other panels, the panelists here stressed flexibility!  Life will not always go the way you want and you may find that the job you thought was perfect is actually keeping you from doing things you find more important, so stay flexible and be open to opportunities that allow you to balance your life in the way you think is best.

Moderator:  Ellen Ostrow, Founder, Lawyers Life Coach; Asilia Backus, Associate, Littler Mendelson; Lauren Hennessey Breit, Attorney Human Resources Director, Kirkland & Ellis; Diana Doyle, Partner, Latham & Watkins; Stacy Smith Walsh, Associate, Day Pitney

Avenues to Government

Editor's Note: Ms. JD's annual conference, Avenues to Advancement, was held November 20-21 in Chicago. These are six pieces of advice from the Avenues to Government panel.

Although lawyers in the public sector often make far less than lawyers in the private sector, that is not an indicator of the difficulty of the job or of getting in the door.  The panelists on our Avenues to Government panel offered some myths and truths about working for the government and offered some tips to help you get public sector job.  Below are two of these myths and three tips to help you get started.

Mythbusting

Myth #1: Lawyers in the public sector are not as good as lawyers in the private sector.

This is absolutely false.  As one of our panelists stressed: lawyers in the public sector are some of the best and the brightest lawyers in the profession.  And they demand excellence as much, if not more, than lawyers in private practice.

Myth #2: The training is better in private practice.

The truth is that the training is often different.  One panelist stated that she did not have any “real” training, but was just thrown into the water and had to swim.  Another panelist jumped in to note that this was training – real experience training – and that is huge! Public sector training if often informal, but it teaches lawyers how to multitask and how to run by the seat of their pants – both great skills for lawyers, especially in this economy. 

Get in the Door

Tip #1: Intern!

In the public sector, other than in politics, it is less about who you know and more about the process, at least at the early stages.  So get some real experience.  If you are struggling to find a meaningful experience, look outside the box.  Be willing to work for little or no pay for some time, think about clerking and get involved in your community.

Tip #2: Be a joiner.

Just because who you know matters less, it does not mean it doesn’t matter at all.  Being connected means you’re more likely to hear about positions that fit your interests.  So join your local or state bar association or a community organization.  Get involved with these groups and gain connections. And remember: don’t burn your bridges.  You never know who might be able to help you out in the future.

Tip #3:  Keep track of everything you do.

Whether you’re speaking on a panel, attending a training session or earning CLE credits – write it all down and keep it handy.  It will show your connections, your motivation and your experience, so when the right job comes along, you can prove that you’re prepared. 

Balancing Acts

Editor's Note: Ms. JD's annual conference, Avenues to Advancement,was held November 20-21 in Chicago. These are seven tips from the Balancing Acts panel.

Balancing your career and your personal life is not always easy, particularly in the legal profession.  The panelists offered advice on how they have managed to balance their lives, as well as insight into the compromises they had to make and the pros and cons of making those compromises.  Below are seven strategies for finding balance and maintaining a healthy life: 

1. Visualize the different aspects of your life and the time you devote to each aspect. 
The panelists uniformly analogized the different needs of their lives, whether as a wheel, a pie or a seesaw.  Visualizing your life allows you to understand where you are spending time and where more time might need to be spent.

2. Prioritize. 
At some point we will all have to make compromises, so it is important to prioritize your life so that you do not compromise something important to you.  At some point we will all have to decide what in life we can let go and what we may never have a chance to do or see again.  Also, keep an upbeat attitude in spite of the sacrifices you’ve made – remember to focus on the positives that have come out of the sacrifice.  For instance choosing to live in an apartment in the city instead of a house in the suburb may be a compromise of space, but might allow you to see your family for longer periods of time.  

3. Delegate.  Remember that you do not have to do everything yourself!  Learning what others can do to help you is an important part of balancing your life.  Keep in mind what you feel is most important for you to do yourself and then assign as much as possible of the rest to others. This allows you both a chance to gain supervisory skills and to allow you more time to balance your own life.

4. Stay flexible. 
Life will not always happen just the way you want. Sometimes you will have to work late and sometimes your child will get sick. Maintain flexibility in your life.  Be patient and learn to rearrange your schedule as needed. 

5.  Build a strong support system.  Whether it is your life partner, your parents, your siblings, your friends or some combination of the above – build a strong support system and then learn how to lean on it when necessary.

6. Keep your personality in mind.  All of us do not function in the same way.  Some people are disciplined, doing a little of everything throughout the day.  Others work in bursts of energy, doing a lot in a small amount of time.  Remember to stay true to who you are and find your natural rhythm in order to maximize your efficiency and better balance your day-to-day life.

7.  Make time for yourself. 
Some people find work or family to be so stimulating or relaxing that they do not need any additional time for themselves. This is the exception, not the rule.  For everyone else, make sure that you find time for yourself to do the little things you find fun.  Some people knit, some people read, some people go to the shooting range – whatever
it is that lets you unwind, make time for it! 

Moderator: Deborah Epstein Henry, Founder and President, Flex-Time Lawyers; Cheryl Blackwell Bryson, Partner, Duane Morris; Shauna Boliker, Chief of Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office; Karin DeMasi, Partner, Cravath, Swaine & Moore; Marcia Owens, Partner, Wildman Harrold; Stephanie Scharf, Partner, Schoeman Updike Kaufman & Scharf.

The Old Girls Club: Maximizing Women’s Initiative Effectiveness

A very practical and informative panel titled "The Old Girls' Club" at Ms. JD's Third Annual Conference: Avenues to Advancement, tackled the topic of women's initiatives.  The knowledgeable and experienced panelist shared their advice on how to start one, how to maintain one and how to make the most of such a group. Here is some of their advice:

1. Set practical and realistic goals for the group.  The panelists all agreed that advancement and retention are two great overall goals for a women's initiative but also expressed a need for the group to stay relevant and to change with the changing needs of the firm/office as keys to a successful group. 

2. Get management on board. The panelists shared advice on the importance of having the law firm management on board and supporting the group.  They all agreed that having a plan for the iniative and being able to express how the group fits into and enhances the organization's strategic plan is a key to success.  While the panelists did not relate trouble with management support in their experiences, they did discuss the difficulties of getting measurable results from a group.  One group had experimented with tracking business referrals. However, most pitched the business case for diversity, in general, and also the positive recruiting impact of having a visible women's affinity group.

Paths to Independence: Starting & Building Your Own Solo Practice

Editor's Note: Ms. JD's annual conference, Avenues to Advancement, was held November 20-21 in Chicago.  These are some tips shared by the panelists during the Solo Practice panel.

It's not just a matter of drumming up a client base (no small feat)--you've also got to master payroll, facilities management, and labor law compliance. It won't be easy, but being your own boss just might be worth it. Here are five tips from the panelists on starting and buliding a successful solo practice.

Crossroads: Turning to Alternative Careers

Editor's Note: Ms. JD's annual conference, Avenues to Advancement, was held November 20-21 in Chicago.  These are some insights shared by the panelists during the Alternative Careers panel. Embarking on an alternative career search can be daunting, but ultimately very rewarding. The following are three questions to ask yourself as you start the journey to an alternative career. 1. What are your skills? The skills you have developed as a lawyer or legal professional may be applicable to countless opportunities outside the legal profession. In addition to your legal skills, however, focus on your non-legal knowledge and strengths. Experience in marketing, management, or teaching, for example, can be as important to your alternative career job search as your legal skills. 2. What do you like to do? Consider your passions, interests, hobbies, and leisure pursuits. Join trade organizations in your interest areas and become an active member of these organizations. Immerse yourself in the "scene": attend association meetings, talk to members, and receive the organization's publications. A personal commitment to the job you seek can prove invaluable. 3. What will work for you, for now?  If you are looking for that perfect post-law job, you may be let down. Be open to possibilities that you have not previously considered. Consider jobs that might not be a perfect fit initially, but that might ultimately assist you in reaching your post-law dream job. Remember that you can always change course later.

Michele Coleman Mayes – Questions I Wish I’d Asked…Things I Wish I’d Known

On November 20-21, Ms. JD’s Third Annual Conference on Women in Law – Avenues to Advancement – took place at Chicago’s Northwestern University School of Law.  The conference brought together highly accomplished legal luminaries and budding young attorneys hoping to gain valuable tools and insight as they prepared to enter a profession that, though continuing to provide a wealth of opportunities, has experienced significant layoffs in light of the nation’s economic downturn.  Preparation and inspiration were two recurring themes of the conference, and Friday night’s keynote address from Michele Coleman Mayes, General Counsel and Vice President of Allstate Insurance Company, provided a wealth of both.  Though I cannot hope to recreate the wit and humor that accompanied Mayes’ speech, I can attempt to convey the heart of her message.  As law students and delayed associates sat attentively in the forum of Northwestern Law School, Mayes shared these words of advice – questions she wished she had asked and things she wished she had known as she progressed through her legal career:

1.      How much of your identity can you keep?  When selecting a place of employment it is important to check out its culture and values, and seriously assess whether it is a place where you can at least be authentic.

2.      Do you know how the organization perceives you?  If you fail to take stock of how an organization perceives you, many assumptions and decisions will be made about and for you.  Ultimately, you will need to decide whether or not to address these perceptions depending on their short- and long-term impact on your career.

3.      Do you have your professional and private priorities in order? Though your priorities may change over time, you need to take step back and take stock of what you really want and conduct an honest assessment of the opportunities put before you.  In this examination, you have to be willing to take risks.  Otherwise, you will not stretch or grow.  In making these assessments, however, it is important to conduct sufficient due diligence and to reach out to mentors.  On this note, Mayes emphasized the importance of “strategic mentoring” and having people to teach you the “informal” rules of the road.  Developing your own personal “Board of Directors” is critical to your success.

Top 10 Tips to Bring On the Rain

Editor's Note: Ms. JD's annual conference, Avenues to Advancement, was held November 20-21 in Chicago. These are notes from the "Bring on the Rain: Business Development" panel.  

At Ms. JD’s recent Avenues to Advancement Conference, held at Northwestern Law School, one of the panels, entitled ‘Bring on the Rain: Business Development,’ brought together five people experienced in the art of ‘making it rain’ to dispense their advice on a variety of topics: Deborah Knupp, Managing Partner, Akina, and Moderator of the panel; Jan Anne Dubin, Director, LECG; Paula Giovacchini, President, Gio Group; Kelly Hoey, manager of Alumni Programmes, White & Case; Jennifer Kenedy, Partner, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell.  The following list of the Top 10 Tips to Bring On the Rain was provided at the session by the panelists:

1) Rethink what it means to make rain or sell.  Rainmaking is a function of two fundamental principles: 1) Building authentic relationships and; 2) Knowing how to solve the problem that should be solved (even it means suspension of self-interest in the short term.)  If you have friends and know how to be a resource to others, you have the building blocks for successful rainmaking.

2) Build and maintain networks.  Meaningful connections take time so start building your networks before you need them and realize that every interaction is a networking opportunity, from how you greet people in the elevator to your updates on Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter to how you interact with people at a wedding, charity or alumni events.

3) Stay top of mind and stay connected. Staying top of mind is only limited by your imagination. Transactional networkers only engage people when they need something such as a job or an introduction. Relational networkers occur when you cultivate interpersonal relationships so they will grow. Staying connected is a function of setting definitive next steps after each interaction and having a “service” mindset that helps others first get what they want first.

Top 10 Successful Interviewing Techniques

Editor's Note: Ms. JD's annual conference, Avenues to Advancement, was held November 20-21 in Chicago. These are notes from the "Successful Interviewing Techniques" panel. 

At Ms. JD’s recent Avenues to Advancement Conference, held at Northwestern Law School, one of the panels, entitled ‘Successful Interviewing Techniques,’ brought together five people experienced in the world of interviews to dispense their advice on how to interview well: William Chamberlain, Assistant Dean, Northwestern Law School, and Moderator of the panel; Julie Bailey, Recruiting Manager, Latham & Watkins; Kristina Gajewicz, North American Recruiting Director, Baker & McKenzie; Elizabeth Jolliffe, Career Management and Business Development Coach, Your Benchmark Coach; Rachel Skaistis, Partner, Cravath, Swaine & Moore.  The following list summarizes the top 10 successful interviewing techniques provided by the panelists:

1. Practice interviewing beforehand.  Think about what you can do for the employer.  Record yourself in a simulated interview and review it.
2. Engage in self-assessment.  Identify your relevant values and attributes.  Determine what is important to you.  Delineate a few ‘selling points’ for yourself.  Have a few ‘trigger stories’ on hand.
3. Investigate an employer.  Think about why your skills and talents will be a good fit for a particular employer.  Go online (NALP, Vault, individual firm websites)!  Discover who has worked for a particular employer and set up an informational interview with them.  Find out what the firm is known for.  Reach out to past summer associates.
4. Know proper interview etiquette.  Carry yourself well – know that you are being observed the entire time.  Never underestimate the importance of a handshake and body language.  Keep note-taking to a minimum.  Be careful about your breath!
   

On-Ramps: Workforce Reentry

Editor's Note: Ms. JD's annual conference, Avenues to Advancement, was held November 20-21 in Chicago.  These are notes from the panel "On-Ramps: Workforce Reentry"

It is possible to rejoin our profession after an extended absence, but it’s not easy.  This panel offered advice about how to combat reentry challenges and develop a means to distinguish yourself from other lawyers in transition during difficult economic times.  Read on for two tangible tips on what to during the absence so that you can make successful "comeback."