Jean Novak Appears in Webinar Focusing on Women Attorneys and Their Paths to Promotion

On March 3, 2022, Jean Novak spoke on a CLE webinar “Mentoring, Training and Advancement of New and Junior Women Attorneys in Law Firms.” The webinar was presented by the Allegheny County Bar Association.

View an excerpt from the Lawyer’s Journal for an article about the webinar by Ron Cichowicz.

It has been reported that women lawyers are leaving their jobs in record numbers. This assertion is even more perplexing when statistics indicate that women now make up more than 50 percent of law school graduates and have gained equal access to the legal profession at the ground level. 

Yet perhaps the answer may be found in the fact that women attorneys have failed so far to gain equal status with their male counterparts when it comes to upward movement into leadership roles. 

To help explore this trend and in hopes of reversing it, the ACBA Women in the Law Division is offering a live CLE webinar, “Improving, mentoring, training and advancement of New and Junior Women Attorneys in Law Firms.” 

This program will provide a summary of the many obstacles women face in the development of their law firm careers. The session also will explore concrete ways that law firms can maximize young women lawyers’ opportunities to build skills, professional demeanor and self-confidence in the workplace and have the same successes in the firm as male attorneys. 

The program, a distance-learning CLE, has been approved for one hour of substantive credit in Pennsylvania and also qualifies for one hour of credit under the West Virginia Rules for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education. It will be held from noon to 1 p.m., Thursday, March 3. The program costs $35 for ACBA members. It is free to ACBA Law School Members and $10 for Non-ACBA Law Students. It is $60 for all others. There also is a $15 West Virginia CLE credit add-on. 

Moderated by Terese Connerton of the Law Offices of Terese M. Connerton, the event will feature presenters Jean Novak of Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky; Ena Lebel of the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition; Asra Hashmi of Jackson Lewis; and Taylor Gillan of Ogletree Deakins. 

Referencing the 2013-released book by Sharon Sandberg, “Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead,” Novak said that, while the idea of mentoring is not a new one, it has drawn more attention in recent years. Novak cochairs her firm’s Employee Relations Practice. 

“I do think when Sandberg’s book came out, more people became aware of these issues,” said Novak. 

Novak said that some of the seeming imbalance can be explained by family obligations, which are assumed more often by women than men. 

“A number of factors keep women out of the corner office,” she said. “Some women leave to have families, which can adversely affect a move to the corner office. Men remain in the workforce and stay visible to those making promotion decisions. Women, meanwhile, often lose their momentum. By the way, this isn’t specific to the legal profession.” 

Regardless of the reasons that may stifle women’s paths to professional promotion, Novak said it is in the best interest of both women attorneys and their organizations to improve this situation. 

“I would suggest to firms that they assign mentors or sponsors to help groom leadership among their female attorneys,” Novak said. “I also recommend that a woman find a mentor outside the firm. That gives her perspective. And one great place to find such mentors is through the bar association.” 

Novak explained that there is a difference between mentors and sponsors, with each offering value to an attorney seeking career advancement. 

“A mentor gives guidance and can be a good sounding board,” she said. “A sponsor recognizes what an asset you are to the organization and will help you plot a course, help determine what skills you need and how to get the assignments that will move your career in the right direction and lead to a promotion.” 

Novak stressed organizations will benefit from instituting such programs. 

“Leadership in firms and organizations need to find a path to leadership for women to follow,” she said. “This has value to the organization. It is expensive if someone joins an organization, then leaves. So it’s a good investment to have somebody who takes an interest in new people, take them to lunch and talk about their career paths.” 

According to Novak, the webinar should appeal not just to female attorneys but also to men. 

“I would also encourage anyone who might be acting as a mentor or sponsor to attend the webinar,” she said. “Sometimes they need to hear the message that their input is appreciated and needed for the next generation of attorneys.” 

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