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Vote on Desiree Davidson's Story
Were they afraid we were planning a coup d'etat?
I spent my first summer during Columbia Law School at a firm in Philadelphia described as one of the best places in the city for black lawyers. I believed that if there was any place where I would have an equal chance at opportunities, be treated fairly and succeed, this would be it. There were three black female summer associates out of sixty that year but any time all three of us were in an office talking, one of the partners would knock on the door to see how we were doing. It happened too often to be a coincidence that sometimes we would purposely agree to meet in so-and-so's office to test our theory that we were being monitored. Like clock work, ten minutes after we would get together a partner would stop by.
Lucy Shen's Experiences
I worked for a law firm two and a half months. I was the eighth person to leave within three months.
The partner has a reputation for hiring strictly women. He controlled the staff through a conquer and divide approach.
Each Tuesday we had staff meetings where we would review each case. My boss would use those cases to identify individuals he wanted to scrutinize.
I confronted my boss about the way certain cases were treated. I was really vocal about it. I felt one of the cases was handled very unethically.
I told my manager once, "You are not going to retain good staff if you don't value employees." His only response was, "Well, that's how we manage our employees.
In my line of work when I am interfacing with judges or law enforcement, I feel that I always have to overcompensate in terms of asserting myself because I am an Asian woman, especially in a room with white men or just men.
I was lucky when I graduated from law school that my first job was with an Asian non-profit legal organization.
The sole reason I left the law firm to go work for an Asian organization is that it is a safe space where I can speak freely and say what I want without being judged.