Nora Ephron, 1941 - 2012
"This is the season when a clutch of successful women—who have it all—give speeches to women like you and say, to be perfectly honest, you can't have it all. Maybe young women don't wonder whether they can have it all any longer, but in case any of you are wondering, of course you can have it all. What are you going to do? Everything, is my guess. It will be a little messy, but embrace the mess. It will be complicated, but rejoice in the complications. It will not be anything like what you think it will be like, but surprises are good for you. And don't be frightened: You can always change your mind. I know: I've had four careers and three husbands."
Commencement speech, Wellesley College, 1996
Any female attorney who thinks she can have it didn't graduate w/$150k in debt at the bottom of a tier 4 law school class making less than 1/3 of the total debt amount. Unless she has a spouse or domestic partner doing really well. I wouldn't know.
Posted by: Realistic | June 29, 2012 at 02:50 PM
We can have it all. I do have it all. I have two sucessful, happy, fulfilled daughters, one of whom is a new lawyer (with a Big Law job starting in October), a successful relationship, many friends, hobbies, and a tremendously satisfying and lucrative law practice. Yes, I work very hard, but I play hard, too. Ephron is right: it's not a relaxed life, but that is my choice. No offense, but if you think you can't have it all, you are defining "all" wrong.
Posted by: Elle |
Posted by: Elle | June 29, 2012 at 12:06 PM
I think you can have it all - but not at the same time. Part of the complication is deciding when you will have what. Women can have more than one dream, just like any man out there. But we all have to hit the wall of reality - you cannot write a last minute brief at the same time you are soothing a teething baby. Which goal are you going for right now and which will have to wait? The wonderful thing is that you get to choose - so choose wisely.
Get creative - work part-time, hire a nanny, job share, start your own law firm or join a virtual law firm. What is going to work for you?
Posted by: Female Newbie Lawyer | June 29, 2012 at 11:41 AM
You can't have it all. That's why she had three husbands. Every woman has to make choices about what will offer her the most satisfaction in her life - work, husband, children, other family, hobbies. It's working toward a society that allows a woman to make her choice without being judged that matters. As for men, I haven't met any of them that get to have it all either.
Posted by: LawBroad | June 29, 2012 at 06:50 AM
Thanks, Vivia, for finding this gem.
Posted by: KP | June 29, 2012 at 06:33 AM
Thank you!
Posted by: anon | June 29, 2012 at 06:11 AM