Why aren't there more women partners at law firms? It's up to us to fight, says Susan Estrich.
"How many of you expect to be partners in ten years?" Every year, I ask my law students that question. The men all raise their hands. We stare at the one or two who don't. And every year, fewer and fewer women raise theirs. Last year I had five. This year, two. That's out of forty. So I wasn't surprised to read about a recent survey of major law firms, which found that the percentage of woman partners at these firms actually decreased last year. At the dawn of the 21st century, just over 15 percent of partners at big law firms are women.
What in the name of Gloria Steinem is going on?
It's certainly not a pipeline issue. Today, nearly half of all law school graduates are women. And women have made up a third or more of all law school grads for almost twenty years. So what is the problem?
I know a lot of you won't want to hear this, but I believe women aren't trying hard enough. Don't get me wrong. I don't mean that women aren't working hard enough to become partners. Plenty of women do. I mean that we aren't working hard enough to change the system so that making partner becomes easier for more of us.
Here's what I'm getting at. Given what staying on the partner track requires, many woman law students and young lawyers see only two choices: struggle to balance an eighty-hour workweek with the demands of a family, or opt off the partner path altogether. To be sure, some extraordinary women manage to be partners and mothers, and some drop off the partner track for other reasons. But most of the women in my classes and in the studies I've seen say they're choosing not to pursue partnerdom because they don't want to sacrifice family life.
Faced with the choice between partner and mother, a generation of women is opting out (hence the statistics). They're sacrificing their highest aspirations before they've even begun their careers. They walk in the doors of their firms on their first day practically wearing signs that say "Don't invest too much in me. I'm not here for the long haul." "Who would you rather have working for you?" a man asked me at a recent forum. "A man who is determined to make it or a woman who is destined to leave?" I don't care what your gender politics are. The answer is obvious.
So what should women do? We need to fight for a third choice. Instead of resigning ourselves to the status quo, we need to work harder to make the partner track more compatible with family life.
The things we need to push for aren't complicated or new. I'm talking about encouraging firms to create or expand part-time, flextime and job-sharing programs. It wouldn't hurt, either, to advocate for new or expanded mentoring programs, so woman partners can show younger colleagues the way to the top. You might be surprised how interested quality law firms are in making these changes. But reforms won't be made-certainly not as fast as they ought to be made-unless we push. Institutional inertia happens.
How can you bring about these changes? Remember: Law students are oxygen to firms. You have power (at least until you say yes). In interviews, ask the kinds of questions that make firms realize they're going to have to update their employment practices if they want to attract and keep the best students. Ask to speak to the woman partners. Ask to speak to the part-time partners.
On campus, think collectively. Form a task force on women's advancement. Conduct and send out surveys on the promotion and retention of female associates. Talk to firms such as Pillsbury Winthrop, Hogan & Hartson, and Debevoise & Plimpton, which have earned a reputation for promoting women and supporting flexibility. Find out what they do right. While you're at it, ask men to join the cause-they don't want to miss out on family life any more than women do. "We don't have any choice," male students tell me every year. "Men's lives have changed even less than women's." Will any one of these steps change things? Maybe, maybe not. But taken together, they'll absolutely make a difference.
In the first phase of the women's movement, women gained simple access to law firms and other legal institutions. Now that we've fought our way in, it's time to rearrange the furniture a little.
Someday, you might help a woman make partner. Someday, that woman might be you.
Most law firms avoid posting jobs on Indeed or LinkedIn due to high costs. Instead, they publish them on their own websites, bar association pages, and niche legal boards. LawCrossing finds these hidden jobs, giving you access to exclusive opportunities. Sign up now!
published December 07, 2011
By Harrison Barnes, CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search 
About Harrison Barnes
No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.
A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter
Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:
- Immigration law
- Workers’ compensation
- Insurance defense
- Family law
- Trusts & estates
- Municipal law
- And many more...
This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.
Proven Success at All Levels
With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:
- Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
- Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
- Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
- Growing firms in small and rural markets
He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.
Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search
Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.
The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys
Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.
- His articles on BCG Search alone are read by over 150,000 attorneys per month, making his guidance the most sought-after in the legal field. Read his latest insights here.
- He has conducted hundreds of hours of career development webinars, available here: Harrison Barnes Webinar Replays.
- His placement success is unmatched—see examples here: Harrison Barnes' Attorney Placements.
- He has created numerous comprehensive career development courses, including BigLaw Breakthrough, designed to help attorneys land positions at elite law firms.
Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes
If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.
Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.
With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.
A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success
Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.
Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:
- Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
- Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
- Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.
This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.
A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives
Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.
He has worked with:
- Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
- Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
- Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
- Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.
For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.
Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation
If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.
? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.
Alternative Summary
Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.
More about Harrison
About LawCrossing
Gain an advantage in your legal job search. LawCrossing uncovers hidden positions that firms post on their own websites and industry-specific job boards—jobs that never appear on Indeed or LinkedIn. Don't miss out. Sign up now!
