Posts tagged discrimination
How it feels to face white male privilege in the PI lawyer world
How it feels to face white male privilege in the PI lawyer world

Well, it doesn’t feel good. After all - the plaintiff trial bar is supposed to be made up of the most progressive lawyers that there are. We are after all fighting for civil justice - a good and noble cause.

This all started up (again) 6 days ago. I noticed that the slate of officer candidates for a subgroup of a national lawyer organization that I’m in - was all male. I googled them to double check and they were all white. I then looked at the 36 names of those on the executive board and with 3 exceptions - yes. All white male. So as the congratulations began to come in for the picking of such a great lineup I wrote in: there’s a serious diversity issue.

Read More
humanKaren Koehlerlegal convention, discrimination, women, racism
She cracked our glass ceiling: a chat with Justice Faith Ireland, ret.
She cracked our glass ceiling: a chat with Justice Faith Ireland, ret.

Justice Ireland:

“Here’s a picture of me as the first woman member of the Washington State Trial Lawyer Association Board. It only happened because the President, John Lewis, insisted. He wanted me to be chair of the legislative committee because I had worked in the Stat senate three terms in college. I knew everyone and where all the bodies were buried. The WSTLA Board agreed with one hitch.

Read More
Karen Koehlerwomen, discrimination, wsaj, equal rights
On Being A Token - The Insult of Getting An Award for Being a Woman
On Being A Token - The Insult of Getting An Award for Being a Woman

“Congratulations! The National Trial Lawyers has identified you as one of the top 25 National Women Trial Lawyers in the state of Washington. Membership is by invitation only and is extended to the most qualified attorneys from each state or region, based on objective and uniformly applied criteria.”

Hogwash.

The letter arrives along with an order form so I can get a wall plaque ($165.00) or a Lady justice Statue ($240.00) to proudly display in my womanly lawyer office.

Read More
Karen Koehlerwomen, discrimination, awards
Off with their heads! - time for our trial lawyer monuments to go
Off with their heads! - time for our trial lawyer monuments to go

Plaintiff Trial Lawyers make act as if but are not - holier than thou.

As protesters topple monuments that symbolize white supremacy, the progressive trial bar stands proudly to the side watching. Perhaps not all applauding loudly. But as advocates for the constitution and against race based discrimination, we agree. It is time those monuments came down. For a great explanation - see Jeffrey Robinson’s YouTube “opening statement” type presentation.

Yet, as a profession we have not done much better in terms of recognizing our own worship of the long time dominant majority white male trial lawyer model.

Read More
Karen Koehlerdiscrimination, women, equal rights, racism