Top Women Lawyers 2024

Jun. 19, 2024

Top Women

The annual awards supplement honors the best 100 women lawyers practicing across California.

In This Issue:

Deborah Chang

Chang Klein LLP and Athea Trial Lawyers LLP

Meredith R. Dearborn

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Patricia L. Glaser

Glaser Weil Fink Howard Jordan & Shapiro LLP

Mary Christine "M.C." Sungaila

Complex Appellate Litigation Group

Nicole Rodriguez Van Dyk

Bird, Marella, Rhow, Lincenberg, Drooks, & Nessim, LLP

Kerry Garvis Wright

Glaser Weil Fink Howard Jordan & Shapiro LLP

"In Re Lady Lawyers": A Brief History Of Women In Law

The United States Supreme Court's 1873 decision in Bradwell v. Illinois allowed states to exclude women from certain professions, including law. Despite progress, women still face challenges in the legal profession, with only 39% of lawyers nationwide being women.

Law Practice

Managing the Double-Decker 'Sandwich Generation' in Law and at Home

Women in their late 30s to early 50s often find themselves in a "sandwich generation" phase, where they are responsible for caring for both aging parents and young children. Law firms can support women in this phase by providing resources and support, such as mentoring and coaching, to help them balance their professional and personal responsibilities.

When lawyers are judged by their looks

Women in the legal profession are judged by the strength of their characters and the brilliance of their minds, but are still judged by their appearance.

Working moms on having it all

Having it all is possible, but it requires defining what it means to you and prioritizing your needs and wants. Taking care of yourself first, simplifying your life, drawing boundaries, adopting a long-range view of balance, and finding your tribe are all important steps to achieving it.

Learn to pivot

Women have made significant contributions to the legal profession, bringing new skills, perspectives, and insights into the board room, conference room, and courtroom. However, women in the legal profession often have to balance their demanding careers with their family responsibilities, which can be challenging.

When will we stop having lists of top women lawyers?

Women lawyers are still mistaken for non-lawyers, are underrepresented in lead roles, and are expected to conform to a male-dominated vision of what a lawyer should look like. Being on a list of top women lawyers is useful, but insufficient to achieve gender equality in the legal profession.

DEI

Trends in law firm DEI practices

Many law firms have revised their diversity fellowship programs, which offer summer associate positions and scholarships to diverse candidates, to focus on the diverse perspectives applicants may bring to the firm rather than their diverse characteristics.

Judges and Judiciary

Woman judges: Different but equal

Women judges have enriched and improved the legal system by bringing their unique experiences and perspectives to the bench.

Corporate governance and form must address global challenges

Several factors may contribute to the lack of diversity among experts cited and consulted on corporate forms and governance, including pressures faced by women at home, a reluctance of women to trumpet their successes, bias against women, and the judgment women feel when they try to do it all.

Sotomayor's retirement debate sparks discussion on sexism, ageism, and ableism

The debate over whether U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor should retire has sparked a larger conversation about sexism, ageism, and ableism in the legal profession. The issue invokes calls for structural change in the Supreme Court, as trust in the institution is at an all-time low and public disapproval is high.

The long and winding road to gender parity in the legal profession

Creating more opportunities for women in the legal profession is an imperative, and the profession benefits from having lawyers as diverse as the clients they serve.

Why experienced women are leaving law firms and how firms can prevent their exit

Women lawyers report feeling unsupported in their career paths, facing implicit biases that affect their promotion and compensation, and lacking flexibility or facing stigma for taking advantage of part-time or remote work policies.

Highlights from my virtual roundtable discussion with 3 top women attorneys

How the murder of George Floyd and the rise of the anti-woke movement have impacted the DEI landscape: the importance of staying the course, using data to drive action, leveraging legal skills and networks, and supporting diverse representation and innovation.

Filter by date

Exact Phrase

Not the words

At least one of the words

All the words