New Book Explores Balance for Women Attorneys

Jessica McFadden of A Parent in Silver Spring recently had the opportunity to interview Susan Smith Blakely, the author of the new book Best Friends at the Bar: the New Balance for Today's Woman Lawyer. Blakely lives in Great Falls and has turned to writing after retiring as a law firm partner after 25 years of private and public practice.

A follow-up to her first book, Best Friends at the Bar: What Women Need to Know About a Career in the Law, Blakely's series is motivated by a desire to combat the low retention rates for women lawyers. In her latest book, Blakely researches and offers female attorneys practical and workable solutions for true work-life balance.

Jessica McFadden: What are the unique challenges of "Big Law" (large, private practice law firms)?

Susan Smith Blakely: Big Law serves several important functions for women attorneys. Number one, it's a great place to be exposed to a variety of types of practice. You can continue your legal education after law school through many practical applications of the law. It exposes you to excellent mentors who can be important to bettering your career. Of course, lastly, you can make a substantial amount of money, to help you pay back your student loans or improve your family's life.

JM: What are the particular challenges of the traditional private law practice model for women?

SSB: In my research I found that 76 percent of women in private practice leave before year five, or they are burned out and on a collision course. Due to our biological clocks and the timing of our educations, the race for partnership is usually happening at the same time women attorneys are becoming parents. Big Law is not a bad thing, but it does create difficult decisions for women, a work/life struggle that is particular to our gender.

JM: You have said your series of books is part of your mission. What is you mission exactly?

SSB: I want to save bodies in this profession! I hope to help women lawyers in America have their own personal definitions of happiness. I hope to create a movement which is no substitution for the Women's Movement, but is different. Professional satisfaction can be on your terms, and you can depart from the male-dominated idea of success. I hope women lawyers can feel they can accept their own definitions of success.  I am also working to change the conceptions and practices of law firms, law schools, and law organizations through trainings and new options.

JM: What advice do you give a private practice female attorney with children who wants to remain on the partner track, or any mother with a time-consuming career?

SSB: I believe we women, we are the ones who still cling very strongly to the notion that we are the ones that can do it the best. Seeking help is essential. I am not telling women they can have it all. I found in my research that what children want more is less stress versus more time together. The stress is the biggest unifying factor for attorneys who are mothers. Whether we seek or hire more help, or cut back on our expectations for ourselves professionally, either way can be correct as long as we take care of ourselves, body and soul.

Learn more about Susan Smith Blakely at her website, read her blog, and check out her book which is of interest to all professionally-minded mothers, Best Friends at the Bar: What Women Need to Know about a Career in the Law.

Guest interviewer Jessica McFadden is an avid reader of DC Urban Moms who writes about activities and resources for Washington, DC area families at A Parent in Silver Spring, and her own struggle for balance at A Parent in America.