It’s No Surprise that Women Met the Challenges of 2020

Illustration by Hanna Barczyk

It has been a tough year, but as we come to the end of the year it is important to reflect on the things that we are grateful for. Since I started this blog, I have met women all over the country. And I have been amazed and inspired by so many of the women I have met. These women are not only champions in the field, but their dedication and commitment to their work and the profession have lifted me up. Through the Women’s White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA), I have witnessed female leaders and members in the association dedicate countless hours to build a stronger organization and community for women in the field. In all candor, these women have kept me sane during the trying times of COVID-19. 

What continues to inspire me when I listen to their stories is how hard they work for their clients, their steadfast commitment for professional excellence, and how they juggle their personal obligations. I could recount countless stories of women juggling family and personal obligations as they are simultaneously taking client calls, reading and responding to emails, or talking to colleagues. Recently, one colleague relayed the story of bathing her child while simultaneously managing an internal investigation. Just as recently, I was also on a call with a colleague discussing a case as she was in line to get a COVID-19 test so she could travel out of the country to meet a client. She put me on hold to get swabbed and continued on with our conversation as if nothing happened. She was undeterred by what she needed to do in order to do her job—all the while making arrangements for her child to be taken care of while she was gone, just as she had done for countless other trips. Simply stated, this is true grit.

Whether representing a corporation or an individual during an investigation or after being charged, it’s this kind of grit that women defenders bring to the work. The fact that women still do not have true equity in the legal profession is nothing new. Women have had to learn to play harder and faster to succeed in a system that has been largely stacked against them. Women have had to learn to juggle competing obligations to succeed in a field that was intended to reward single focused dedication. And in spite of these obstacles, women are succeeding. And in some instances, outpacing their male counterparts. Why? Grit! 

I certainly wish that more doors would swing open and more glass ceilings would break for good, but the fact that these obstacles exist has a lot to do with why women make such amazing defense attorneys. Women understand struggle, women understand overcoming adversity, and women understand fighting for fairness. Quite frankly, representing a client feels pretty similar to the skills that we have had to learn to fight for ourselves. This makes for powerful advocacy. 

Thank you to all the women who inspire me daily in their commitment to fighting for their clients while continuing to clear the hurdles in our profession. Happy New Year and wishing you all much success in 2021.