It may be counterintuitive to think of another lawyer as marginalized.

After all, no one becomes a lawyer without the advantages of receiving a quality education. Lawyering demands that we zealously advocate for our clients. Wouldn’t we logically use the same skills to stand up for ourselves in the workplace?

Not necessarily.

The truth is that there are many lawyers – women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ community, among others – who are often relegated to the sidelines of our profession without the support they need to reach their full potential. It happens in plain sight. While multiple factors contribute to this problem, one is that we have become so accustomed to, and accepting of, conduct that marginalizes our colleagues, that we rarely notice it, question it or try to correct course.

That is where allies come in. Allies exist in all professions. They are the people committed to providing fair opportunities to colleagues who are not in the mainstream – including attorneys. Allies support, advocate for, and empower their co-workers and colleagues, while confronting biases, prejudices and stereotypes that hold them back. The work of an ally is often situational, and it is typically done through simple actions and without fanfare.

Here are three common scenarios in the practice of law where you can make a difference as an ally.

The Talk-Over
Ever been to a meeting where a woman or other marginalized colleague is silent or perhaps is trying to say something but is repeatedly interrupted? You are not alone.

Studies have found that, on average, women speak 25% less than men in meetings where both sexes are present and that both men and women are more likely to interrupt someone if they are female. The problem is seen on the U.S. Supreme Court. A 2017 Northwestern University study found that during oral arguments, male justices interrupt female justices approximately three times as often as they interrupt each other.

What can be done when you witness another attorney who is hesitant to speak up or who has fallen victim to the talk-over? Try drawing your silent colleague into the conversation by asking for their input. Making it known to the group that you want to hear what your co-worker or colleague has to say can curb the talk-over. When appropriate, you can champion another attorney’s significant experience with a particular issue and get everyone in the meeting invested in listening.

Unfair Delegation of Significant Work Assignments
Work assignments in the practice of law are not created equal. Some assignments offer intellectually stimulating, meaningful work with opportunities for attorneys to expand their skills and raise their profile in the profession. Other assignments are less riveting and will not get an attorney noticed, let alone advance the attorney’s career.

How can you be an ally for an attorney who is repeatedly passed over for plum assignments? As a short-term strategy, you can take a direct approach and recommend your colleague when such assignments arise. As a long-term strategy, you can position your colleague to be top-of-mind by consistently talking with those who allocate the work about the attorney’s experience, skills, work ethic and their other positive attributes.

Networking Stereotypes
Networking helps develop relationships that are critical to a lawyer’s success. While networking often conjures up images of golf outings and working a room at galas and meetings, future clients and business connections can be found anywhere. Marginalized attorneys (and even attorneys who are not marginalized) may feel more comfortable networking in less traditional settings, and they deserve the same level of support as those who go the more traditional route.

Allies recognize and combat networking stereotypes. They understand that hosting a cooking class or a wellness day can be as beneficial as attending a sports event or hosting a poker game. Allies use their power and influence within their organization to ensure that all attorneys are afforded the opportunity to network in a manner where they can put forth their best self and is most likely to yield optimal results for them.

The practice of law is not a solitary endeavor and we lawyers do our best work when we build upon each other’s achievements. Being an ally does more than help an attorney in need. It promotes smart, creative and collaborative lawyering, which reverberates throughout the profession, and helps us effectively serve our clients.

Patricia M. Giordano, Esq. is a partner at Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock Dodig LLP and is 2nd Vice President of NJAJ. She can be reached at pgiordano@feldmanshepherd.com or 877-594-5785.

(This article was originally published in the December 2020 issue of In Brief.)