Browse Stories
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.
I had to choose between more money and a welcome work environment.
- Workplace Unfairness
- Male
- Asian
- Law Firm
- Law Firm
- Compensation
- Development
- Glass Ceiling
- Impact
- Personal Response
You can work at a predominantly Asian firm like I did, but it's still a part of the glass ceiling, because you will never make as much as the lawyers in a big firm. The economic opportunities working with big corporations are a lot better. There is a lot of comfort and support working for the predominantly Asian firm and that's probably why I stayed there. I would have made a lot more money if I went to a bigger firm, but I wouldn't be as happy there. The culture wouldn't be as supportive. Working at a mostly Asian law firm, I have been able to develop in ways I don't think could have happened at a large law firm. I've been able to do things and have trust and confidence.