Analysis of the 2012 PBA Women in the Profession Diversity ...

An Analysis of the 2012 PBA Women in the Profession Diversity Survey
WIP 20thAnnual Conference, May 9, 2013You & the PBA WIP: Opportunities and ChallengesElisabeth “Dolly” Shuster
Themission of thePBA WIP DiversityCommitteeisto explore ways to encourage women of all backgrounds to join and be active in the WIP and the PBA and to meet their unique needs in theprofession… to create a culture within the WIP and the PBA that effectively values diversity and fosters inclusion … and to promote the full and equal participation of women of all backgrounds in the WIP, the PBA, the legal profession and the justice system in general.
Diversity Committee Mission Statement
Diversity includes,but is not limitedto:RaceEthnicityReligionNational originSexualorientation, gender identityorexpressionDisabilityAgeMarital status
Definition of Diversity
Geography (city,smalltowns, rural)Work Environment (large, small andmid-sizefirms, sole practitioners, government lawyers, in-house counsel, judiciary, part-time, full time).Note: These last two categories are not standard EEO categories.
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Diversity Definition Survey
RaceEthnicity
White:622, 90.80%Black/AfricanAmerican: 26,3.0%Hispanic/Latino:11, 1.61%Asian:17, 2.48%2 or More Races:8,1.17%Declined to Identify: 1, 0.15%
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Self Identification as having a disability
Disability
No disability:648, 94.60%Disability:26, 3.80%Declined to Identify: 11, 1.61%
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Persons with a disability specifying the disability
Disability*Apparentdiscrepancy – More people identified a specific disability than answered yes to having one.
None: 658, 96.06%*Physical: 14,2.04%Deaf/hearing impairment: 1, 0.15%Mental health:5, 0.73%Cognitive(e.g. ADD,learning disability:6, 0.88%Speech/language:1, 0.88%Other: 3, 0.15%
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Sexual Orientation, gender identity or expression
Heterosexual:654, 95.47%Lesbian: 14, 2.04%Gay: 3, 0.44%Bisexual:3, 0.44%Transgender:0,0.0%Declined to Identify:11, 1.61%TotalLGBT:20,2.92%
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Age
Under 25:4, 0.58%25-35: 241, 35.18%36-45: 142, 20.73%46-55: 148, 21.61%56-65: 124, 18.10%> 65: 26, 3.80%
Diversity DefinitionSurveycon’t
Almost two-thirds married, in a partnership or union.
Marital Status
Single, never married:171, 24.96%Married, Domestic partnership, Civil Union: 448, 65.40%Divorced, Separated, Widowed: 66, 9.64%
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Familial status ascaregiverNOT INCLUDED
No caregiver responsibilities: 374, 54.60%Primary caregiver responsibilities: 242, 35.33%Caregiver responsibilities,notprimary: 69, 10.07%
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Almost half do NOT practice in urban area.
GeographyCitiesSmall TownsRural
Urban Area/Metro: population >200,000 364, 53.14%Suburban Town, pop. < 200,000 within 30 mile radius of urban/ metro: 236, 34.54%Rural, pop. < 50,000 not adjacent to urban/ metro: 85,12.41%
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The fewest are employed by large firms.
Almost one third are employed in small firms.
Work EnvironmentLargeMediumSmallSolo Practitioner
Large Firms (>250): 46, 6.72%Medium (50-250): 64, 9.34%Small (<50): 207, 30.22%Solo: 106, 15.47%
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Work EnvironmentJudiciaryGovernmentIn-House
Judiciary: 64, 9.34%Gov./Public Entity: 63,9.20%Not-for-Profit Org.: 49, 7.15%Private Company: 58, 8.47%Not employed as lawyer/in law:28, 4.09 %
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Work Environment- Work StatusFull-TimePart-TimeNot Currently Employed
Full-Time: 599, 87.45%Part-Time: 59, 8.61%Not Currently Employed: 27, 3.94%
Survey WIP ProgramsRecommendation
Mentoring -Long term mentoring commitments
See WIP Member’s Area on PBA website:WIP “LINK”Mentoring ProgramVolunteer Mentors for WomenListed WIP members are availabletoWIP members to answerquestions in their areas of expertise viaphoneore-mail.
SurveyWIPProgramsRecommendation
Go to WIP website; read the descriptions.
NetworkingFor minority attorneys, especially in rural areas.Strong networking for caregivers, especially to help find reasonable flexible work.Job networking for women and minorities.Non-work-related networking to help provide work-life balance.
WIPListServeWIP Committees:Report Card CommitteePromotion of WomenMentoringDiversityAnnual MeetingRetreatMidyear MeetingCommunications (Voices & Viewspublication)Quality ofLifeLegislativePublic Service
Education & SurveyAction Issues
Who Needs To Be Educated?Male/non-minority lawyersOther women lawyers
Why are there issues with other women lawyers?Age breakdownCaregiver breakdownGeography
Education &WIP/PBAAction Issuescon’t
More published information on best practices for firms to improve diversity.Alternative billing & pay arrangements.Internal mentoring & support programs.Flextime/part-time/familyfriendly work hours.
WIP website, Public Resources ButtonModel Policies for Alternative Work SchedulesProposed Alternative Work Arrangement PoliciesWomen in the Profession Report Cards20thAnnual ConferenceCoursebook
Education & WIP/PBA/PBIAction Issuescon’t
Mandateconsideration/ inclusionof people of diverse backgrounds on panels.Hold a symposium on diversity & staff panels with diverse speakers.
PBA Diversity Team encouraging inclusion.PBI adopting encouragement of inclusion of diversity on panels.WIP’s 20thAnnual Conference as a start to follow-up on the survey.
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Stereotyping of women by relegating them to particular areas of law – family law.Need to break down male dominated areas of practice.Equal Pay.
WIP Report CardWIP Honor Roll of Legal Organizations Welcoming toWomenAnne X.AlpernAwardLynette NortonAwardWIP Diversity Committee
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Harassment & discrimination against women – Perception that legal community finds this acceptable.Greater outreach and education on the importance of diversity throughout the bar associations, especially in rural areas.
WIP Committees, Annual & Mid-Year meetings, Fall retreat, Awards, Report Card,Voices & Views,ListServePBA Diversity Team
WIPannually recognizes PA law firms for their commitment to the advancement of women. In 2009 the Commission established its Honor Roll of Legal Organizations welcoming to Women Professionals which honors PA firms, corporate law departments or other organizations providing legal services either public or private, that have instituted programs or initiatives that help women lawyers continue and advance in their careers while maintaining a work/life balance. Since its inception more than 18 firms, legal organizations and in-house legal departments have been named to the annual list.
Recognizes a female member of the PA Bar who practices or conducts professional activity primarily in Pennsylvania, has had a significant professional impact in Pennsylvania having demonstrated leadership in her law-related profession and her community andhaving practiced mentoring activitiesand haveengaged in significant activities on behalf of women in the profession.
WIPAwardscon’tAnneX.AlpernAward
Recognizes a female member of the PA Bar who excels in litigation of any typewho has demonstrated leadership in mentoring female attorneys.
WIPAwardscon’tLynette Norton Award
The PBA Diversity Teamestablishes resources and forums for enhanced communication among PBA groups with diversityinitiatives. It iscommitted towork collaboratively with PBA leadership, staff and all other PBA-related groupsandentities, including thePA BarFoundation, thePABar Insurance FundandTrust Fund, PABAR-PAC and thePBI,to promote and enhance diversity.Eachmemberof the DiversityTeam(DiversityAmbassadors)works collaboratively with PBA groups to promote and enhance their existing diversity initiatives and/or assist with creating new opportunities.WIP has a Diversity Ambassador.ThePBA Diversity Teamwas establishedbyrecommendationof the PBA Diversity Task Force, as unanimously approved by the PBA Board of Governors on Nov. 17, 2010.
PBA Diversity Team
The Diversity Team is assisted in its work byPBA DiversityOfficer, Janis M. Leftridge,who works with the Diversity Team, the PBA Board of Governors and senior staff to develop and execute the PBA's diversity programs andworks with the state's legal community to provide resources and tools in support of diversity goals, objectives and initiatives.The Diversity Officer ismeeting with the local bar associations to work on improving diversity.
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