Should gender play a role in deciding to hire a divorce attorney?  If you are a woman, do you want a male or female attorney and vice versa?  Does it make a difference if the judge in your case is male or female?

I like to have both in my law firm because I do believe men and women think differently.  As one women lawyer told me, men think like a ladder, women think like a wheel.  When you get different perspectives on problems, that can lead to better  solutions.

Today, women make up 50% of law school classes.  There were only five women in my law school class of 200.  Of those five, one became the chief judge of the highest court in the state and another became secretary of the state.

I remember a female attorney and I were in a meeting with a prospective female client once.  I am usually pretty laid back.  I try not to make promises I can’t keep.  I prefer to underpromise and overperform.  That way I can be the hero if the case happens to go my way.  The women attorney, however, was full of energy.  She was shocked that the woman’s husband treated her badly and she promised to hit him where it hurts (his wallet).  Naturally, after the meeting, the client said, “I want her to be my lawyer.”

To answer my first question, I think it is more important to get a good lawyer than a lawyer of a specific gender.  By good lawyer, I mean one who can attack their work for your case, meet deadlines, and return your calls.  Some good lawyers are men and some are women.