Much attention has been paid, in the media and elsewhere, to the employment barriers faced by women in traditional law firm environments and other private sector settings, such as unequal pay, the challenges of the partnership path, and the struggle of meeting the demands of both career and family.

The Women’s Bar Association’s Government Lawyers Committee and the Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service at Suffolk University Law School will present a program on June 18 to explore the unique challenges faced by women attorneys working in the public sector.  The public sector, often viewed as affording a reasonable work-life balance, attracts many women lawyers. Despite the volume of women attorneys in the public sector, little time has been devoted to examining the difficulties faced by these women as they seek to maintain a robust and evolving career.

Our esteemed panel – Kate Cook, Director of Cabinet Affairs, Governor’s Office; Jennifer Miller, Chief, Government Bureau, Office of the Attorney General; and Rachael Rollins, General Counsel, MassDOT – will discuss how women government attorneys address the challenges of advancement in public sector careers.  The panelists will also speak about important components of career advancement such as mentorship, professional development, networking, and negotiating salaries and promotions.

The panel will be moderated by Suffolk University Law School Associate Professor Bernie Jones.  Professor Jones is the editor of the new book, "Women Who Opt Out: The Debate Over Working Mothers and Work-Family Balance."

The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited, so RSVP to reserve your seat today.

To stay up to date with the latest upcoming Rappaport Center events, please subscribe to our newsletter.