Triangle Business Journal has published a curious story about the number of women in the legal profession. The headline says it all: Women a Growing Force in Law Firms. However, the story line is about “gender imbalance” in the industry — a very tired, old mantra that implies there is something unfair and/or discriminatory about this. If some women are making a choice to spend more time with family than at the office, what is “imbalanced” about that?
Some firms have begun allowing flexible schedules, an arrangement that helps both mothers and fathers with children at home.
Still, many attorneys – especially women – eventually leave law firms to seek a better balance between professional success and personal happiness. And many go to corporate legal departments, whose schedules are usually a bit closer to the traditional 9-to-5.
