No Limits

Tips for Transitioning from Traditional Legal Practice to an Alternative Career

How you transition into a new role sets the tone for your post-transition experience. So, how do you set yourself up for a successful transition to alternative work? Here are a few things to consider as you plot your move.

Non-Traditional Law Practice: Life on the Other Side

Even though a law degree is required for some positions, these jobs might not include practicing law in the traditional sense. You might wind up doing something different from what you thought a lawyer did when you graduated law school.

Advice from Women Who Have Excelled in the Profession

The glass ceiling is far from shattered. Five past Margaret Brent Award winners, recognized for their excellence and role in paving the way for future female lawyers, share their advice on continuing to make an impact, promoting inclusion, and succeeding in the legal profession.

Breaking the Shield of Silence

Though establishing and evaluation of workplace misconduct is primarily the employer’s responsibility, it is up to all of us to contribute to cultures of civility through our own behaviors.

How Do Women Navigate The Legal Profession?

Kelly-Anne Clarke, a former ABA YLD Chair and Assistant Vice-President and Senior Legal Counsel at a Fortune 10 Company, responded to questions posed during a panel on women's experiences in the legal profession.

Are Salary Negotiations to Blame for the Gender Pay Gap Among Lawyers?

Researchers offer various statistics and explanations regarding the pay gap, but one factor that firms and attorneys might pay closer attention to is the rate at which women negotiate starting salaries as compared with their male colleagues.

Working as a Woman in a Male-Dominated Profession: Female and Male Perspectives

The number of female attorneys is at a record high! Yet, male attorneys tend to shape the profession's culture because men continue to dominate the senior roles. As a result, female attorneys often face several challenges as they maneuver through their careers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sexual Harassment

Bringing the topic of sexual harassment into the mainstream has not only had the effect of destigmatizing sexual harassment in and of itself but has also increased the general societal awareness of the pervasiveness of sexual harassment. This increased awareness has also exposed a void in the understanding of what sexual harassment actually is and how it should be addressed.

3 Steps I’ve Taken to Become a GOOD (or at least a better) Guy

There are countless other ways in which men can improve in order to be better allies and empower their women colleagues. Looking for a starting point? Check out these three steps that provide a place to begin.

Advocates Reignite the Fight for an Equal Rights Amendment

The text of the ERA is simple: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex.” With new branding, online resources, a movie, and events, renewed efforts are aiming to secure passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. But it’s not easy.

Thinking Bigger Than Work-Life Balance

Saying “work-life balance” suggests a false dichotomy in which “work” and “life” exist on separate ends of a spectrum. Meanwhile, we are left walking the tightrope between them, and losing our balance could send us spiraling to the ground.

Four Ways to Stay Engaged at Work and at Home

There’s an ebb and flow to everything in life, and a perfect 50/50 work-life balance is totally realistic. The following strategies can allow you to be more productive and fully engaged in your work and personal lives.

Don’t Lose Track Of Your Self-Care Goals

For those women recalibrating today, it is okay. There is no magic recipe for self-care. As your personal and professional careers evolve, you must realign. Take pride in knowing your capacity and slowly integrating or modifying your self-care routine.

Proving Title VII Discrimination in 2019

Pop culture is full of examples of discrimination from forty and fifty years ago or more. These examples of discrimination are not only easily identifiable, but also easy to dismiss as something that doesn’t happen anymore, at least not in the workplace. However, the reality is that discrimination occurs every day in workplaces all over the world.

Ethical Considerations for Your Parental Leave

Congratulations! If you are planning a parental leave, there is undoubtedly a lot on your mind and on your plate. While it may not be at the top of your list, as a lawyer there are ethical considerations that impact parental leave as well.

Aligning Your Life with Individual Balance

Work. Life. Balance. What do these three words mean? Recently, the legal profession has placed a strong emphasis on managing stress. Such a strong emphasis that it feels like we casually throw around the phrase “work/life balance” without taking a beat to define what it can and should mean to the average individual in our profession.

Unconscious Bias Awaits Attorney Mothers After Maternity Leave

Despite years of progress in the legal profession and improved policies and accommodation around maternity leave, unconscious bias still exists against women attorneys who also are mothers. This makes it difficult for them to stay busy with the work necessary for career advancement.

Setting Your Goals Will Help You Decide When To Say 'Yes'

Saying yes and no with a purpose is important. When you identify and your personal values and career goals you can consider whether saying yes to an opportunity aligns with those values or that you'd just feel too guilty saying no. Controlling yesses allows you to achieve balance.

The Importance of Having a Strong Support System

A strong support system can help reduce stress. Young lawyers face a tremendous amount of stress-from large student loan payments to a shrinking job market, stress can impact your physical health and mental wellness. There are three groups that make up a strong support system.

Closing the Gap: The Need for Allies

Most female attorneys will confirm that sexism is a continued problem in this profession. Against this backdrop of an ongoing reality, women must have allies in the legal profession. To address this disparity, both men and women need to recognize the problem and change their attitudes and actions.

My Transition Back to Work After Maternity Leave in a Small Firm

A smooth transition back to work after maternity leave requires preparation, planning, flexibility, and a little bit of luck. While preparation and planning for maternity leave are critical to a smooth transition back, so is the flexibility of you and your firm.

A Roadmap to Mentorship and Sponsorship: From Law School to Practice

As one is traversing the transitions from law student to new lawyer to more seasoned lawyer, mentors and sponsors can and should act as professional guides and advocates respectively.

An Introvert Lawyer’s Guide to Networking

Networking for the introvert/imposter may not be easy, but it is manageable. Find what works for you and never give up. With time and effort, your network, career and confidence will grow.

A Tale of Two Maternity Leaves (And Two Stages In Your Career)

Maternity leave policies can be as varied as the employers who offer them. No matter what your employer offers, actually taking maternity leave can be a challenge in and of itself. Maternity leaves can also be quite different from each other—such before you make partner and after.

About the GOOD Guys

The GOOD Guys Program was born out of a desire to take the message to the masses and engage all attorneys—men and women alike—to be one of the “GOOD Guys” in the fight for gender equity. “GOOD” stands for “Guys Overcoming Obstacles to Diversity,” and “GOOD Guys” include all people who are dedicated to seeing these efforts succeed.

More Resources

Programming Guide

Panel Presentation Questions

Monday Morning To-Do List