Career Clinic: Will working in an all-female team harm my promotion prospects?

What?

If you do not like it, leave. What advice are you hoping to get?

On the one hand you do not wish to rehearse the old stereotypes and on the other you are doing exactly that.

As a male lawyer, I do not look at employees as male/female when judging their performance and whilst there are undoubtedly some dinosaurs about, it doesn't appear that is happening at your place and old-fashioned views relating to sexism are out of place, out of touch and in my experience uncommon. I did not say they do not exist, nb!

As I say, if you think you work for a firm that fits the out of date stereotype, move. If that is not the case, why are you asking the question in the first place?

Me -16 Jun 2011 | 13:58

Were you born yesterday?

I hate to be the one who says this but if you are:

a) in a transactional team (e.g. corporate, banking or property); and
b) all good looking ladies,

then there is no future for you where you are. The reason for this is that one does not really have to have much technical ability to work in a transactional team. Ergo the partner could have picked anyone. But he picked six young, attractive ladies to work with. You do the maths. The partner just wants some eye candy. And some good lookers to roll out to his mates (sorry, I mean clients). Let's be honest, most guys who make partner are going to try and get the best looking PA possible and a bevy of attractive NQ's into their team. Some City partners are legendary for this.

I know this might sound controversial but come on...six female associates, one partner. Seriously, you had to ask?

And before you retort with this, "but he is a nice guy" (with a family and kids) claptrap... six attractive female associates, one partner. Are you kidding me?

Brett "The Hitman" Hart -16 Jun 2011 | 15:39

Do bears sh*t in the woods?!?

Er, yes. This shouldn't be a Sherlock Holmes moment for you.

The blunt and brutal truth is that most partners in law firms largely promote people who are similar to themselves. They will look for a close fit - not just personality but gender, orientation, ethnicity, geographic and social background. If your boss is a man then as a woman you aren't really similar to him now are you? This would be the case in any team.

The fact that he's hired you as an associate doesn't mean he has any intention of helping progress your career. In fact it seems the complete opposite considering that ALL his associates are women. He must think he's onto a winner - eye candy, opportunity for ulterior motives plus he hopes you all leave to have children at 32 and never come back - at which point he brings in the next batch of young female associates.

Get out.

Magic Circle Associate -16 Jun 2011 | 18:44

Rubbish reply from ME

The comment from 'ME' is the dumbest, most obnoxious comment I've ever read. And there is some stiff competition on this site. He is clearly a person who has never had to experience any kind of prejudice so in his mind, it must not exist (or he secretly thinks the reasons why some women find it difficult is because they are not as good as male lawyers). The make up of your team and the fact that you are worrying about appearing as a negative female stereotype (something men have to worry about considerably less frequently) suggest to me that the previous poster is right. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be much you can do about it unless it is possible to switch to a more progressive team with enough expertise to continue on the partnership track. I would say use this time to build up your (not necessarily your partner's) practice and reputation with a view to leaving the firm and carrying some serious credentials (not to mention clients) with you, if you are passed over too many times.

annoyed -16 Jun 2011 | 20:22

Have you asked your line manager about your progression prospects? Has he set out what the criteria are for promotion? If yes to both, then why not ask why your name was not on the list. Then at least you can have a semi-honest discussion about this and would have some evidence for your assessment.

As for talking about sport and drinking beer, I think you'll find that if you want partnership there is a bit more to it than that.

I am a woman. I've been admitted for 20 years. Everyone who knows me knows that my favourite beer is Budejovicky Budvar but I will not turn down a Staropramen. I enjoy Eastern European lagers and Lithuanian cider. I can tell you a few things about football and I follow the Sky Blues. Didn't get me an offer of partnership though. Don't want one either.

Sport and beer are good openers and ice breakers but they are not what makes a person partnership material. Hell no, if they were, we'd have Steve Claridge as our senior partner!

high street solicitor -17 Jun 2011 | 14:24

ask a stupid question, get a...

Well, you think you have got it bad? Try being a mostly male team with a female boss! Who do you think gets promoted?

Funny how it is always women who complain about sexism. Men are far more open to promoting a woman, than a woman promoting a man. I don't agree that people only promote people similar to themselves. In my experience promotions have been heavily influenced by client perceptions (which, can be gender influenced by gender). Fortunately, gender is not the most important factor. However, when I woman is a boss. She is surrounded by women. Anyone with any authority is a woman.

As this original question was related to your promotion prospects I should address that. Many of the posters here are correct. There are people who recruit on the sole basis of appearances. If that is your situation, you should leave (unless you like it of course - you might quite enjoy that position). If you are a serious career minded woman, you will succeed either way. Start thinking about what you need to do to get promoted or to move to another firm with better prospects.

I wish you the best of luck with your career.

retired -18 Jun 2011 | 10:14

The fairer sex?

Diverse teams are better re mix of skills and attitudes. I have written 10 articles for The Association of Women Solicitors and did an event in February. Contact me via a Google search for copies of useful articles to help you with your dilemma.

talentliberator -25 Jun 2011 | 08:09