Written By: Kelli Knight
Upon graduating from law school a semester early and passing two state bar exams, in June 2012, I was sworn in to the bars of New Jersey and Maryland. The first in my family to attend law school, I was unsure of what to expect from this particular career path, in large measure, because of the oft-told narrative espousing the many unique challenges inherent in being a woman in the legal field (i.e., being mistaken for non-lawyer support staff, enduring wage differentials with one’s male counterparts, or, worse yet, dealing with sexual abuse or harassment from senior partners).
Today, nearly nine years later, when asked to write about my experiences as a “female” attorney, I can happily and honestly say there has yet to be a situation in which my gender could be considered problematic or in a negative light. In fact, it’s been quite the contrary. It proves to be a source of great strength in my legal career. Perhaps I have been uniquely blessed with employers and mentors who are gender blind, but I think there’s much more to it than that.
For the record, and for the sake of brevity, however, I do humbly submit that the things that have helped me navigate and succeed in this profession are the same skills that apply to both women and men:
1) Be the most prepared person in the room.
2) Hold fast to the courage of your convictions.
3) Never play the victim.
4) Embrace the God-given differences that make both men and women great.
I believe a female who is armed with a solid education, an ability to analyze issues and relate to others, can and certainly will succeed in this male-dominated arena.
Horman Nichols, LLC 