Ms. JD Weekly Roundup for the Week Ending March 15, 2013

Women in the technology sector are searching for a fair shake from venture capital firms.

The incredible Vickie Pynchon (@VickiePynchon) is at it again. If you're not following her series on women in Big Law, you should be! This week's series featured her Five Sure Fire Ways to Lose Great Women (a tip list for recruiters at big firms) and Good News About Young Women in BigLaw! Ms. JD even gets a nod in the second article. Can you say #womenhelpingwomen?

Happy 80th birthday, Justice Ginsburg! Jeffrey Toobin describes her legacy as both Supreme Court Justice and women's rights advocate.

The Institute for Women's Policy Research released new findings showing that progress has stalled on the gender wage gap. Here's a quick look at how continued disparities will impact families and communities nationwide. Click here to download the full report.

ABA President Lauren Bellows is in Ms. Magazine this week talking about equal pay!

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending March 8, 2013

Obama's judicial nominees may have been slow in coming, but they are significantly diversifying the bench

From the incomparable Vicki Pynchon: A Plea to Women to Stay in BigLaw

Corporette reminds us how to show your assistant your appreciation, but falls into a gender stereotype assuming your assistant is a woman

VIDA 2012 has the count on the number of women featured in published media and it's not good

There's one week left to apply to the ABA's Section on Intellectual Property's annual fellow ship program

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending March 1, 2013

Remembering trailblazing Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Ann McMorrow.

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer ignited a media firestorm when she announced a less flexible telecommuting policy, but is it all much ado about nothing?

When it comes to paid family leave the U.S. has a lot of catching up to do.

Slowly, but consistently, California's state judiciary (largely appointed positions) is growing more diverse.

Cool job alert: Justice Kagan is hiring a new assistant.

National Law Journal published its ranking of the Go-To Law Schools for Big Law hires. Considering going to law school? Be sure to check out Ms. JD's Pre-Law Prep Guide which will help you get into application-ready shape!

In a bid for more big law transparency, Peter Kalis, the outspoken chairman of K&L Gates, is posting his firm's financials to their website. He's saying the move is at least partially in response to the Dewey collapse.

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending February 22, 2013

50 years after the Feminine Mystique, Stephanie Coontz asks (and answers), "Why the gender equality stalled?"

From the paper that brought you the "Opt-Out Revolution": a look and a brand new opt-back in generation.

Actually, the NYT wasn't the only one focused on the increasing numbers of women returning to professional careers after raising children, the WSJ (talking about McKinsey targeting this population in recruiting) is in on this story as well.

Check out attorney Aleksandra Magdziak Lopes, the world's 8th-ranked female welterweight!

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending February 15, 2013

Congratulations to Paulette Brown who is slated to become the ABA's first female President of color!

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act. But today paycheck fairness is no longer a women's issue - it's an every household in America issue.

Speaking of anniversaries, the Women's Bar Association of Illinois is gearing up for its 100th anniversary this June 13 - so mark your calendars.

Registration is open for this summer's Hastings Leadership Academy for Women in July.

The Violence Against Women Act has been reauthorized by the Senate and will now be taken up by the House. Understand the controversy surrounding the application of the Act on tribal lands (where 2 in 5 Native American women are subject to domestic violence) that has held up authorization.

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending February 8, 2013

Result of an improving economy or a continuous stream of bad press? Law school applications are down nearly 40% from two years ago.

An insightful summary judgment opinion in the gender bias case Rochat v. L.E.K. Consulting - look for these same arguments to resurface in the discrimination case pending against various law firms. 

President Clinton on the FMLA 20 Years Later

Some tips for your first oral argument (or really any public speaking engagement)

Land of the Free. Home of the Biased. Around the world, girls are scoring higher on science exams, except in the U.S.

Super Bowl Ads: Are you buying it?

Recapping last week's historic national roundtable with ABA President Laurel Bellows

Remembering Cardiss Collins, Illinois' first African American Congresswoman

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending February 1, 2013

How to negotiate a pay raise in the context of pervasive gender pay gaps? Sorry to report that credible sources are still suggesting you try being "feminine and apologetic." Seriously?

Check out this month's ABA Journal feature on the experiences of Muslim women lawyers.

Sheryl Sandberg shook things up this year at the Davos World Economic Forum (where only 17% of invited guests are women) with a frank discussion about gender bias.  But her comments also included warnings about the ways in which women shortchange themselves by holding back and failing to "reach for their goals with gusto."

Happy 200th Birthday to Lizzy Bennet and the other satirical treasures of gender-norm busting author Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice!

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending January 25, 2013

Another glass ceiling broken: This week the Pentagon announced it would abandon its ban on women in military combat positions.  This victory has been a long time coming and the incredible perseverance and prowess of our women in uniform cannot be overstated. NPR takes a look (in pictures) at the history of women in combat.

Congratulations to Mary Jo White, President Obama's nominee to lead the SEC!  We would be remiss not to note that Mary Jo has served as a mentor in the Ms. JD Fellowship Program - as if you needed one more reason to apply.

AmLaw has collected and analyzed the latest numbers on the wage and advancement gender gap in large firms.

A look inside the majority female leadership team in the Texas Governor's office.

Sheryl Sandberg's new project supporting professional women Lean In is hiring in the Bay Area.

Interesting news - total new case filings declined in FY 2012.  A sign of court crises across the nation or something else?  Tell us what you think in the comments!

Friday Feel Good Moment: A Kirkland & Ellis Records Clerk by day and hero by night!

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending January 18, 2013

Are you registered for the BIGGEST event Ms. JD has ever hosted?  Connect with hundreds of women around the country from the comfort of your home city, hear ABA President Laurel Bellows answer YOUR questions, and network locally.  It's pretty much the best thing since sliced bread.  Check it out today!

Dealing with your first semester grades?  Here's some tips on how to maximize what you take from them, good, bad, or just ugly.

Women's Initiatives in Law Firms - Why They Should Be Driving Women's Business Goals via The Glass Hammer

Congratulations to the Winners of the 2013 Chambers Women in Law Awards!

Young Lawyers Need to Realize Work Isn't Like School (there are no points for participation)

Heads Up SoCal Ladies: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is  speaking at TJSL on February 8th

Ms. JD President, Katie Larkin-Wong, recently moderated a panel for the ABA Young Advocates Committee on success tips for business development. The Committee recently published a summary of the tips! 

Despite a seemingly endless string of bad numbers coming out on women in law, Susan Smith Blakely is upbeat about 2013

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending January 11, 2013

In case you missed it, we've got viewing parties ALL OVER THE COUNTRY for Ms. JD's Event with ABA President Laurel Bellows.  To learn more about Building Her Power Base: A Conversation On Leadership And Entrepreneurship With ABA President Laurel Bellows or to register to attend any of our viewing parties or the live event, click here.

Looks like Obama could use some "Binders Full of Women"

In other Gender Gap News: Women breadwinners are still doing most of the housework

Some Good Advice from Cheryl Bachelder, CEO: Don't wast time trying to fit in, you can't and you don't need to

Headed to law school or know someone who is? Did you see our new joint project with the Levo League (@levoleague)? We're breaking down everything you need to know from deciding if law school is right for you to preparing your application and choosing your school! Catch the first piece in the series here.

Although we've apparently avoided the fiscal cliff, Chief Justice Roberts wants you to know the Federal Judiciary is doing everything they can to cut their costs.

Congrats to the MANY Ms. JD sponsor firms who have groups named to the Top Practice Groups of 2012 by Law360.

Facing the winter blues as you return to work or school?  Check out Forbes's 12 Tips for Staying Productive during the winter months.  Let us know if you implement them or if you have other favorites.

Our friend at Curvy CEO has a special week-long session on dressing for your body shape.  While we don't believe that clothes define the woman we do know how looking great can give you an extra boost of confidence.  So scroll over for some new tips!

And in the vein of latest depressing study to reveal discrimination: ATL is covering a new Yale study that shows women are discriminated against based on their weight.