Women Criminal Defense Attorneys: Valuable Resources for Women in Law and in Business

It seems that women’s issues are receiving more media attention every day. No matter what you think of Sheryl Sandberg and her book Lean In, it certainly started a revolution and established a platform to focus on women’s issues that was sorely lacking.  I am a huge fan and applaud her courage to speak out so honestly about her own self-doubt, not an easy thing for anyone that has reached the top and has to pretend they are full of confidence.  If you have not read her book I recommend that you do.

Many have criticized her message because it is delivered by a voice of privilege, but that is why the message is so powerful, not a reason why it should be discounted.

First, she didn’t need to take up this cause and she did it nonetheless. Second, privileged voices are the ones that reach the farthest because more people will listen, and that is why they have a responsibility to speak up for everybody.  Sandberg took this responsibility to heart and deserves enthusiastic praise for it, not criticism.

Now that I got that off my chest, let me tell you about LeanIn.org, which is a tremendous resource for women. You can find a collection of inspiring Lean In stories of women from all walks of life and across a full spectrum of professions who share their struggles and triumphs.  There is the “What would you do if you weren’t afraid” campaign, then the Lean In Collection of photos, the formation of Lean In Circles,  and Lean In on college campuses aimed at inspiring the next generation of women. If you haven’t visited the site please do, it is packed full of news and inspiration.

If that wasn’t enough, Maria Shriver has started the Shriver Report which is a “multi-platform nonprofit media initiative led by Maria Shriver that seeks to modernize America’s relationship to women.” Read the About page to get an idea of how powerful an undertaking this project is for women. Shriver creates special reports such as “A Woman’s Nation Pushes Back from the Brink” which is a study about the rate of financial insecurity among American working women and what to do to change this. There are many stories of inspiration, but also the cold hard facts about where women are in our society today. I loved reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s advice to women: Get Out of Your Own Way… it is a must read. Check out the entire site if you haven’t already.

And keep going back to Makers, which I highlighted previously, for new video clips of women sharing their stories. It is a wonderful historical collection of women telling stories of struggle and success from their own mouths.

Women face real disadvantages in law and in business. But it is encouraging to see momentum building for real change and a level playing field. The resources highlighted in this post provide inspiration, encouragement, and practical guidance. So be sure to take advantage.