In this era, where businesses are actively committing to diversity and equality, it’s unfortunate to observe sexism and harassment still prevalently festering in notable law firms.
One such distressing experience has been shared by Erin Gordon, author of “Look What You Made Me Do”, a memoir bringing to light the uninviting atmosphere at a high-profile law firm. In her account, Gordon recounts years of persistent micro-harassments, slander, and inadequate work delegation causing severe stress and thwarting her career progression. Albeit having a solid legal ground against the firm, the practical barriers made it inevitable for her to bear the environment with negligible improvements.
Some key takeaways from Gordon’s experience include:
- The considerable pressure to sustain in Biglaw firms despite adverse encounters and experiences
- The turning point arrived when she sought advice from employment lawyers, compelling her to quit the firm
- The enduring impact of her career, involving self-esteem issues, hinderance in professional growth, and monetary loss
- Her realization that she was not an inadequate lawyer, but rather a victim of a system that places more importance on loyalty than individual journeys
This account was part of The Jabot podcast, an initiative of Above the Law, which addresses the challenges faced by women, people of color, LGBTQIA, and diverse demography in the legal industry. Named after the justice-shrieking accessory sported by the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg while delivering bench dissents, it amplifies the presence of these communities even when they are not in a winning position, but still a formidable entity to reckon with.
Learn more of Erin Gordon’s story of endurance in the light of sexism and harassment, and its impact on her career in the full podcast here.