The WSJ Law Blog posted a story a few months back about a new trend in networking: events for women lawyers and clients only; which has gotten a lot of play on the blog. Peter Lattman writes:
“Bryan Cave sponsored a “shoe event” in Manhattan recently for its female lawyers and female clients, described in great detail in a WSJ column yesterday. Earlier this month, Skadden Arps hosted its ninth annual Skadden Women’s retreat at the Ritz Carlton in Naples, Fla., attended by some 60 women partners and 135 women clients. The same weekend, Akin Gump held a similar event in Washington, D.C., for all of its female attorneys.
These types of women-only networking events are proliferating. “There are spa retreats, conferences at resorts, evenings at art galleries and cooking demonstrations, all organized by women who want to network and socialize with clients in their own way – at least some of the time,” writes the WSJ.
These confabs raise some complicated issues. What about the male clients of female lawyers? And the female lawyers of male clients? Some women think these events perpetuates stereotypes. And some men wonder, “With all the equality women have achieved, why do they continue to have these separate events?”
O enlightened Law Blog reader, whaddya think?”
Indeed it is a complex issue, but from my prospective it’s a marketing opportunity that both genders can appreciate.
Networking works best when you have something in common with the people you’re meeting. Let’s face it, the legal profession still holds onto a lot of the old boys club thinking, why not let women attorneys and clients have an opportunity to meet with other female lawyers and clients and reap the benefits for themselves and their firms? Of course, this would not rule out other networking with both men and women.
I think most women would enjoy the opportunity to meet and speak with other women attorneys and clients.
What do you think?
Susan Martin, Law Firm Management
