Reflections on Women's History Month

March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on the progress women have made in every field—especially in the legal profession. This year's theme is "Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations."

My father, a long-time law professor, wrote an article in 1996 called, “Women Lawyers – Have They Really Arrived? Are They a Force to be Reckoned With?” The article made the case that by early in the 21st century women lawyers would not only be accepted fully – they would be a growing group of superior legal scholars. He predicted that my generation of women lawyers would head up law firms, handle the toughest cases in the courtroom, unravel the thorniest legal problems, serve in large numbers as judges, law deans, professors and office holders, and be lauded and applauded for their legal skills. Finally, he noted in his expectation that it would “all occur with the highest degree of professionalism,” and that “in the eyes of the American people, the esteem of lawyers will soar.” 

At the time Dad wrote that article, I was a young lawyer, having practiced for six years. I did not know that he wrote it. But having recently run across the article while going through his papers, I can’t help but believe that he had his daughter in the back of his mind as he penned it.

Women lawyers have done all the things Dad foresaw and more. He would be proud.

But one of the most important contributions women lawyers make – not only during special times like Women's History Month – is supporting other women. Whether in their firms, as in-house counsel, or in bar organizations, that support takes many forms. In my own career, I’ve been blessed by the support of fantastic female trial and appellate lawyers like LaBella Alvis, Debbie Smith, and Rhonda Chambers, who not only taught me skills, but championed me among my partners, with clients, and in the bar. I’ve been surrounded by a fantastic group of supportive women at my law firm and in state and local bar associations. I’ve been guided by women lawyers who took me under their wing – some who probably had no idea that I considered them mentors – Maibeth Porter, Carol Sue Nelson, Claire Black, and Jenny McCain, to name a few. And, I was fortunate to clerk for the first female federal judge in Alabama, Sharon Lovelace Blackburn, who has helped me navigate my career through all these many years.

 

As Women’s History Month draws to a close, I am grateful to all the women lawyers who have enriched and inspired my professional and personal life. I hope I’m paying it forward to the women lawyers with whom I cross paths.  

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Sharon Stuart has been a member of AIM's Board of Directors since 2001. She has served as Chair of the Marketing Committee and a member of the Investment/Audit, Underwriting, Personnel and Executive Committees. Sharon has served as President & Claims Counsel for AIM since 2019.