Customer Reviews

Ending the Gauntlet: Removing Barriers to Women's Success in the Law

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A good, hard look at today's law firms, Ending the Gauntlet: Removing the Barriers to Women's Success in the Law tackles tough issues comprehensively and fairly. Lots to recommend about this book, but particularly helpful for those who care about law firm profitability are the practical recommendations Lauren Stiller Rikleen makes in the second part of the book.

My work is with women, however, and I found the discussion of gender stereotypes and how they impact women to be consistent with my research and observations. Rikleen is right -- most of the time, behaviors that hold women back aren't motivated by bad intentions, merely cluelessness. Yet these behaviors hurt women and, consequently, the legal profession. Rikleen offers a blueprint for law firms who want to get better; the smart ones will follow it.

Ms. Rikleen's book is an insightful and well reasoned review of issues affecting the legal profession today and how those forces often work against the advancement of women attorneys. Ending the Gauntlet provides a comprehensive review of the issues facing women today, extensive research about these concerns and recommendations for change. The book's approach is a refreshing one noting that while women face day to day challenges to succeed given our culture, the real problem is the one faced by the legal profession overall. Ms. Rikleen rightly appreciates that it is time to redefine what it means to be successful in the legal profession. She offers hope that the legal profession can allow the opportunity for all lawyers to succeed and in achieving that success, there is a place for serving clients, raising healthy children, caring for elderly parents and participating in our communities.

I saw an advance copy of this book and was blown away. The interviews are incredibly compelling and candid, the author's voice very unique. I at times found myself nodding along in recognition of issues that I have faced myself and, at other times shocked by the choices some women have been forced to make.

Finally, someone has put forth a book about these important issues, not only in law, but in so many other professions. This is an absolute must-read for everyone involved in practicing law and for all women balancing work and family.

Having survived three years in a law firm (and survive was the key word), I could definitly relate to the stories in this book. The only shocking part is that I was in a law firm over 10 years ago, and nothing seems to have changed. Ending the Gauntlet, however, is more than a compendium of stories of women being mommy-tracked. It looks at the structure of a law firm itself and how that contributes to the workplace issues for everyone, not just women. I particularly loved the Prologue (worth the price of the book itself, especially if you have my warped sense of humor), because it describes how a bizarre sort of company is run where performance for all employees is based solely on money they personally earn for the company; the managing director/CEO is only "part-time" because he too has to earn money to keep his title; turnover is high; management is minimal or nonexistent; and people are given management positions because they are "least objectionable" to others; part-time is extended but discouraged as it cuts into billable hours ... and you finally start to realize that while the rest of the world has moved foward, law firms are relics of days gone by

Ending the Gauntlet was a powerful read -- it provides a very practical and realistic view of law firm culture for women and what needs to change. I could not put it down.

As a former corporate executive who now consults with law firms on sales and leadership effectiveness, Ending the Gauntlet provides the roadmap for change -- at both the individual level for women and at the firm level.

I purchased Ending the Gauntlet after hearing many rave reviews but admit that before reading it, I had my reservations that the tone of the book would be either too shrill or academic. That was absolutely not the case. Ms. Rikleen discusses the challenges that women lawyers face and the challenges that the profession as a whole faces in a thoughtful, honest and fair voice that is truly compelling to the reader. I've recommended this book to every lawyer I know (male and female).

Finally someone honestly addresses many of the major problems facing the legal profession today. As a former attorney, I can relate to many of the issues raised by Ms. Rikleen in her book. I entered the legal profession as a second career and was dismayed by the attitudes I encountered toward female attorneys and toward the concept of creating a healthier work environment. While on the average, female attorneys suffer the most from antiquated and sexist ideas regarding what it means to practice law, the entire legal profession suffers as well. It is time for ALL attorneys to stop the craziness. All attorneys, firm managers and human development people should read this book.

"Ending the Gauntlet: Removing Barriers to Women's Success in the Law" is an outstanding book! The author uses interviews of female lawyers throughout this book to illustrate how the existing demands of private law practice do not serve the best interests of the women, the clients, and the firms, themselves. Lauren then challenges the legal profession to reexamine its centuries old basis of firm demands and organization to create a new, different and better environment for clients, firms and the lawyers themselves which is not only more humane, but will also serve the interests of all three groups much better. I highly recommend this well-written book to law firm managers, lawyers and law students.

In her thoroughly researched and heavily footnoted book, Lauren Stiller Rikleen examines this troublesome issue: why many female lawyers still have not achieved the same professional success as their male counterparts. Rikleen delves into the challenging topics including part-time work, and what happens to the careers of women who opt for that route. She also explains other factors that contribute to the success of male lawyers' careers (being mentored, and becoming rainmakers) and discuses why many women don't enjoy the benefit of those.

Rikleen, who is well versed in the advancement of women lawyers, concludes her book with a call to action. She argues that law firms need to make a dramatic culture shift from the top down; firms should choose management which understands and values the contributions of women attorneys (not just those who fit the traditional, full-time mold). Rikleen also hopes that law firm compensation will change to reward cooperative client development efforts, among other things.

Towards the end of the book Rikleen notes that it's not just childbearing female lawyers who seek a more manageable work/life balance; Generation X and Y lawyers of both sexes are also seeking the same. She encourages law firm leaders to redefine their firms' cultures (as happened at her firm) in order to keep their talented lawyers, both male and female.

A female co-worker of mine has been bothering me to read this book. Upon a recommendation from a friend, she picked it up and hasn't stopped talking about it. After enough pestering, I finally gave in and gave it a read. I'll admit, I went in kicking and screaming, but came out with a new perspective and respect for my fellow female co-workers. This book was a real eye opener and I strongly recommend it for anyone, male or female! Nice work by the author.