No, I wasn't out celebrating the big one year anniversary of the blog. Can you believe it has been one year since I launched with my list of the top things that annoy the hiring partner? I really had no big plans to become a blogger, per se, I just kept seeing certain behaviors in our younger lawyers that I knew were really hurting them. Has this changed? Well, to a certain extent, due to the economy and the massive change in the way law firms hire and retain lawyers, I do think there's less a sense of entitlement than we had been seeing. There's still plenty of room for guidance and improvement.
I will answer some of your questions in upcoming posts but I really felt for the big one year anniversary, something momentous was required. Something exciting. Well, no, F-3 and I are not running off to the sunshine of the blogsphere to live happily ever after. Though I certainly appreciate all F-3 has done in his/her contributions to the blog. And I appreciate the contributions of the rest of you (except of course when you are slamming HP with really nasty comments).
Which brings me to the big one year celebration announcement. Are you ready? Really ready?
(heck I am not sure I am ready)......
HP is a Woman!
Yes, a female. So many of you just assumed HP was a man. (Some of you still doubt I am even a lawyer, but I can assure you I am in possession of a valid law degree and bar membership). I am not certain why so many assumed I am a man. Because I am a partner? A Hiring Partner? Heck, plenty of Hiring Partners are women. Was it because I often tell it how it is, kind of straight up, whether it seems harsh or not? I am not sure, but for those who sometimes accused me of not having a women's point of view, or being anti-woman (which I and those who have worked with me found comical), it may simply have been because I was trying to be gender neutral.
OK, so what does this mean? Well I hoped you've learned that assumptions can often be wrong. And, hopefully this doesn't change anything. I still aspire to give you useful advice - don't worry guys I am there for you. For our women readers, I'm hoping this opens up more of a discourse on women's issues in the workplace. Believe me, I have been there. No one has handed me anything and I know it is not easy. We can't do it all, 100 percent. Some of us can do a bunch of things pretty (or really) well. But superwoman does not exist. You have to recognize you can't have it all, all the time. That's been my conclusion. Sometimes I'm a great parent; sometimes I'm a great lawyer; sometimes I am both; but other times if I'm being a great lawyer and working all night to get something done and missing activities - no, I'm not being a terrific parent. I guess we will discuss some of this down the road.
Well, I hope that was exciting and I look forward to some thought provoking comments and questions.
Best,
HP
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