Kirsten Branigan was facing an existential crisis. Working at a large New Jersey law firm with young children, she felt the rubber meeting the road in a significant way. She couldn't do everything she wanted to do with her family while meeting all the firm's requirements.
Instead of just accepting the situation, Kirsten made two bold decisions. She started her own employment law firm built around flexibility and empathy. And when she heard that the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association was dying out because "women of your generation don't care about these issues," she decided to prove that wrong by leading the effort to revitalize the organization.
Twenty years later, Kirsten's firm is thriving as a refuge for women lawyers, and that "dying" organization now draws over 700 people to its annual gala. As someone currently conducting research with Rutgers University on women's advancement in the legal profession, she has insights on what's actually changing for women lawyers and what isn't.
In this episode of The Lawyer's Edge podcast, Elise Holtzman speaks with Kirsten about building a law firm culture that works for women lawyers, the challenges that persist across generations, and her advice for creating change: Build an Army.
3:24 - Why Kirsten left Big Law to start her own firm after an existential crisis
5:51 - The values and culture Kirsten built into her firm from day one
9:02 - How to maintain firm ideals while dealing with business pressures
11:19 - The story of revitalizing the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association
16:03 - Current challenges women face in the legal profession based on Rutgers research
23:16 - Positive shifts and trends for women in law
28:05 - The mental health crisis in the legal profession and available resources
30:31 - Understanding generational differences and approaching them with empathy
32:40 - What lawyers can do to make the profession better for everyone
38:36 - Kirsten's advice for creating lasting change: Build an Army
MENTIONED IN CREATING LAW FIRM CULTURE THAT WORKS FOR WOMEN LAWYERS
New Jersey Women Lawyers Association | LinkedIn
New Jersey Lawyers Assistance Program
Get connected with the coaching team: hello@thelawyersedge.com
SPONSOR FOR THIS EPISODE…
Today’s episode is brought to you by the Ignite Women’s Business Development Accelerator, a 9-month business development program created BY women lawyers for women lawyers. Ignite is a carefully designed business development program containing content, coaching, and a community of like-minded women who are committed to becoming rainmakers AND supporting the retention and advancement of other women in the profession.
If you are interested in either participating in the program or sponsoring a woman in your firm to enroll, learn more about Ignite and sign up for our registration alerts by visiting www.thelawyersedge.com/ignite.
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