Women in the Legal Profession

Four female chief justices of state supreme courts talked about their careers at the forefront of the wave of female law school graduates as the “concrete ceiling” changed into a “glass ceiling.” Topics included early struggles being hired by law firms, being the only females at a firm, balancing a career with motherhood, how being female influences a lawyer’s perceptions, and the impact of women on the legal system such as the growth in alternative dispute resolution strategies, family law, and community courts. The judges talked about their experiences as being the first to achieve various milestones and responded to questions from members of the audience.

The program “Women’s Struggles Recounted and Impact Assessed,” a part of the school’s centennial celebration, was held in the Cherry Room of the library at the New England School of Law.

This is a portion of the program. close