Building a successful career as a female attorney comes with its own set of unique challenges and obstacles to overcome. Female attorneys often find the demanding practice of law hard to balance with raising a family. In addition, despite the tremendous strides women have made, it is still an unfortunate reality that law is still a male dominated field, despite the facts that law school student classes now have a proportionate number of male and female students. This article will discuss how female attorneys can have a successful and rewarding career as an attorney.

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Choose Employers Who Employ High Level Women. Certain employers are much more women friendly than others. When considering applying to a law firm, take a look at their website and see how many female partners (or even associates) that they have. A firm that counts a decent number of female attorneys amongst its ranks, particularly in a leadership role, are far more likely to be support of the success of female attorneys. If you are considering working in house, do your homework and see how many women hold executive positions.

Seek Out Family Friendly Employers. Many progressive employers now have part time and flexible/alternative work arrangements available. Review a prospective employer’s employee handbook, or don’t be afraid to ask. Your prospective employer’s response should give you some idea as to reasonable the company or law firm is with respect to family issues.

Network With Other Females. Many women prefer to do business with, and/or help out other women. Having a network of female contacts is imperative to building a book of business. Networking can be as informal as reaching out to existing female friends, to striking up conversations in the gym, the beauty salon, the mall, or meeting the mothers of your children’s friends, such as through the PTA. You might also want to consider joining female oriented organizations, such as the YWCA, the National Organization for Women, and women’s bar associations. Going anywhere where other women are can give rise to leads.

Don’t Try To Act Like A Man. Women attorneys have their own unique strengths, work styles and methods of doing business. Far too often, one of the biggest mistakes women attorneys make is to try to emulate how they think a male attorney would handle a situation. Women attorneys should have confidence in what they bring to the table, rather than assuming that how a man handles something is the best or only way to do it. For example, women are natural mediators who can diffuse and peacefully resolve a tense situation, as opposed to many male attorneys who feel the need to posture and act aggressively and in an argumentative fashion.

Find Yourself A Female Mentor. Mentoring is one of the most valuable tools by which a woman attorney can plan and develop her professional legal career path. A female mentor, who understands the unique challenges that female attorneys face, and can provide guidance on how to cope and successfully deal with such situations, can make all of the difference. Female mentors can help in defining and achieving work/life goals, in making contacts, in enhancing credibility, in getting critical feedback and coaching, and in some cases, providing a shield and paving a path.

Treat Other Women As Partners Rather Than Competitors. The mistake that many women make is to cut down their fellow female attorney, rather than to promote female success and influence in the legal field. Viewing other female attorneys as the enemy, rather than as allies, only serves to devalue and discredit female attorneys as a whole.

Work Smarter, Not Harder. Too many attorneys view being overworked, exhausted, and pulling regular overnighters as a badge of courage signifying their success in the legal profession. What women attorneys need to realize is that it is the quality, not the quantity of their work that will set them apart. There is nothing wrong with taking care of yourself and having other interests and a life outside of work. You are much better served taking on less cases and doing them well, than over-extending yourself and doing a substandard job.

Be Your Own Best Advocate. If you do not market or promote yourself, who is going to? Many women attorneys have the tendency to minimize or downplay their own personal achievements. Women attorneys need to be confident and assertive---projecting a powerful image will inspire your clients (and potential clients) to have confidence in your legal acumen. Eliminate equivocation.

Take On Leadership Roles. Taking on leadership roles, no matter how small, show that you are a go-getter and a force to be reckoned with. You want to be viewed as someone with whom to be consulted with, someone to be looked up to. Increasing your visibility will help you to become a rainmaker. Paying attention to business development opportunities rather than simply getting bogged down in work is what will set you apart.