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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.
Part of the reason I think about staying
- Workplace Unfairness
- Female
- African-American
- Law Firm
- Considering Leaving
- Extracurricular Nonprofit
- Personal Response
- Positive Experience
- Professional Societies
Part of the reason I think about staying is that I feel loyal to my region. One of the good things my firm has done is to get me on the board of a prestigious community organization. I did it reluctantly because I didn't think I'd have time for it, but on the board I'm in an environment with African-American professional business people. If I leave the firm, I think I will negotiate wherever else I go to have support of the organization as part of the hiring package.