Clippings: Chief Judge Kaye Sues New York for a raise

For over 10 years New York State's judges have gone without a raise. Since their salaries are not adjusted for inflation, they've actually experienced a devaluation in their compensation. Today, Court of Appeals Chief Judge Judith Kaye formally announced her plan to sue the state to change that. Judge Kaye and her counsel, Bernard Nussbaum, spoke to Ms. JD and NWLSO's members at the recent Student Leadership Summit. In the context of a business culture in which women in particular fail to fight for compensation commensurate with their experience (check out Women Don't Ask and Ask for It for advice on how to ensure you are not undercompensated for failing to negotiate a raise) I say bravo to Judge Kaye and Mr. Nussbaum!!

Must Read: Judge Kaye & Anne Reddy on Women in Firms

Twenty years ago Judith Kaye - now the Chief Judge of New York's Court of Appeals and a keynote speaker at Ms. JD's Student Leadership Summit - published a breakthrough study in the Fordham Law Review on the state of gender equity in law firms. In their current volume Fordham Law Review is publishing a follow-up, "The Progress of Women Lawyers at Big Firms: Steadied or Simply Studied?"

There's good news and bad. Since 1988 there are more female attorneys and more female attorneys in senior positions. But inequities remain - in compensation and in position.

• In 1988, fewer than 8% of partners at big firms were women, although the associate entry-level class was 40% female. In 2007, women accounted for 16% of equity partners, 26% of nonequity partners, and 30% of “of counsel” lawyers, although the associate entry-level class was close to half female.
• As recently as November 2007, the National Association of Women Lawyers found that, of thirty-five firms willing to report compensation by gender, the average median compensation of a male equity partner was almost $90,000 higher than that of a female equity partner, $27,000 higher than that of a female nonequity partner, and $20,000 higher in the of counsel position.
• 90% of firms report their top earning member is a man.

I recommend the article, especially to those considering a career in a big firm.