Christine A. Buttress is a partner at Graydon Head (Cincinnati). She has been with the firm for nearly 24 years and has practiced law for nearly 33 years. As chair of the Personal Planning Industry Group, she practices in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration and strategic philanthropy. Christine counsels clients in the management and disposition of property during lifetime, at death and after death as well as in the related tax and personal considerations. She also has been involved in the negotiation and drafting of prenuptial agreements. 

"I have always known that I wanted to help people solve their problems.  My undergraduate degree in math piqued my interest in a tax-related area of the law.  That led me to estate planning.  While many people view estate planning as all about tax savings, it is much more.  I focus on “personal planning” and apply a holistic approach to my practice.  By doing so, I have many opportunities to improve the services I provide to my clients.  At the end of each day, I want to be able to say that I did something to improve the quality of someone’s life.  That is what keeps me interested in the practice of law.

Many things have changed in law firms in the last five to ten years.  Technology has been both a blessing and a curse.  We are able to work remotely allowing greater flexibility in balancing competing time demands.  Technology has increased client expectations for a quick answer.  Unfortunately, sometimes the best answer takes time.   But I think the single biggest change has occurred in the area of career paths.  Now there are alternatives to the traditional associate to partner path.  I attribute many of the changes to the number of different generations working together in law firms today.  

The advice I have is to understand that the practice of law is both extremely demanding and rewarding.  If you are interested in law, be absolutely certain you are willing to make the necessary commitment.  The practice is highly competitive.  It is not enough to be proficient; you must differentiate yourself in a positive way.  I suggest making a realistic list of the pros and cons of seeking employment with a law firm.  Many individuals with law degrees have never engaged in the practice of law with a law firm.  The day-to-day practice of law involves so many things we never learned in law school."

To learn about the other profiled women lawyers featured in our Women in Law series, click here.

Janice M. Flowers is the owner of JMF Attorney at Law LLC (Columbus). While she stared her own firm seven years ago, she has been practicing law for 11 years. Janice has over 10 years experience in domestic relations law. Her experience includes a strong financial and business background as well as law firm experience. She was a law clerk for the Franklin County Domestic and Juvenile Court and currently serves as a guardian ad litem in Franklin, Licking and Delaware counties and is licensed to practice in Federal Court and the United States Supreme Court. 

"Ironically, I was initially attracted to the legal profession while being employed at a bank in their Officer training program.  During that time I worked on several projects with the bank’s legal department (reviewing contracts, compliance issues, etc.).  The rest is history!

The economic climate has dramatically impacted the practice of law within the firm environment.  For instance, a number of medium-sized firms are merging with larger firms – in my opinion – directly related to the economy.  Technology has enabled me to effectively meet the demands of running a solo practice – I am able to connect with my office and clients from virtually anywhere.  Most importantly, I have begun to create electronic client files, in an effort to eliminate the enormous amount of paper generated by the practice of law!  It has become more acceptable to interact with clients almost exclusively via electronic means (text, e-mail, etc.).  In fact, my 'Generation Y' clients seem to prefer electronic interaction as opposed to in person.

The practice of law can be very demanding, but it definitely has its perks.  My law degree has allowed me the flexibility to work in government, in a law firm and now I am my own boss!   In my very biased opinion, there is no other education that has the 'shelf life' and flexibility of a law degree.  A person interested in pursuing a career in law should be prepared to research the field in order to have realistic expectations regarding the demands and cost of law school as well as the job prospects for employment.  Regarding employment within a law firm, there are opportunities to gain exposure to law firms through internships.  Once you get your foot in the door, the rest is up to you!"

To learn more about the other profiled women lawyers featured in our Women in Law series, click here.

Erika L. Haupt is the partner-in-charge at Roetzel & Andress (Columbus). She has been with the firm for eight years and has been practicing law for 17 years. She focuses her practice on wealth transfer and estate planning. She is among The Best Lawyers in America® and  one of Ohio Super Lawyers magazine’s “Top 50 Female Lawyers in Ohio” and “Top 25 Female Lawyers in Columbus.” She is also a Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

"I enjoy working with people and solving problems.  Wealth transfer planning, my main area of practice, affords me the opportunity to tackle complex legal and tax issues while at the same time serve as a counselor and trusted advisor on matters that are personal and unique to each of my clients. My practice touches on many different aspects of the law, so I’m constantly challenged.

Unbelievable as it sounds, when I began practicing in 1994, a female lawyer was considered a renegade if she wore pants. We’ve come a long way in almost 20 years. Women are more prominent in law firm management, and we understand the importance to both firm culture and client relationships of hiring and retaining women. Advances in technology allow us to work anywhere, making it easier not to have to choose between career and family. Easier, but not easy. Law firms seem slower to change than other business environments.  There are still glass ceilings to break through, but we’re making progress. 

With the high cost of a law school education, I can’t imagine anyone embarking on this path without deciding it’s something she really wants to do. Working in a law firm is hard. You put in long hours; you must develop business without any formal training; partnership tracks are getting longer; and salaries are being frozen. Nonetheless, it can be extremely rewarding both personally and financially. Do your homework. Find a practice area that really interests you and a firm that fits your personality. Seek out both personal and professional mentors as soon as you walk in the door."

To learn about the other profiled women lawyers featured in our Women in Law series, click here.

Susan D. Rector is a partner at Ice Miller LLP (Columbus). She has been with the firm for 25 years and has been practicing law for 28 years. She represents companies in business transactions and in all aspects of intellectual property ownership. She assists start-up and established businesses with commercializing technology and conducting business online.  Her experience includes a wide variety of business transactions and providing ongoing advice and counsel to women-owned and privately-held businesses.

"I was always fascinated by the interaction of laws and public policy and the effect of government regulations on business and industry.  From that it was natural for me to gravitate to providing business advice and counsel and assisting businesses with transactions.  Over time, I have focused more of my practice on technology and the legal issues encountered in conducting business online.  I remain interested in law, because the areas in which I practice continue to evolve and there is always something new to learn.

Law firms have been forced to become more flexible to accommodate the needs of the changing workforce and to remain relevant and responsive to clients.  Technology has escalated the pace with which we receive and respond to client needs.  With smart phones and other technology, we are accessible 24/7, and there is no such thing as office hours.  At the end of the day, attorneys are problem solvers.  The best ones become an integral part of their client’s team to advance and achieve their business objectives.

My advice is to know that this tight job market will remain tight for some time.  There will always be room in any profession for someone willing to make the investment to become proficient and make themselves indispensable.  It takes commitment and hard work.  Attorneys are in a service business and ultimately always are working for someone else – their clients.  Know that in a difficult job market your first job may not be your ideal job.  But you will gain experience with each position and that experience will make it possible to land your ideal job."

To learn about the other profiled women lawyers in our Women in Law series, click here.

Stephanie P. Union is a director at Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter (Columbus). She has been with the firm for nine years and has been practicing law for 12 years. She handles creditor’s rights and bankruptcy cases for a variety of clients: from creditors, to bankruptcy committees and trustees. Stephanie represents clients in work-outs, complex foreclosures, receivership actions, collection cases and bankruptcy matters. Additionally, she has experience in litigation relating to the sale of commercial mortgage-backed securities.  

"Initially, I was attracted to the law because I envisioned I would be able to help clients solve problems and effectively advocate for them.  Now I find that being able to find unique solutions to situations that at first blush seem insolvable is very rewarding.  When clients take the time to let you know how you have helped their business or their lives, it makes the hard work all worthwhile.

A lot has changed over the past 10 years.  Technology has obviously grown by leaps and bounds and it has greatly affected the way attorneys practice law.  Most clients have expectations of availability from their attorneys 24/7 since everyone is now so 'connected'.  While technology allows much more flexibility and ease in being able to work remotely, it also creates the opposite effect in binding us to our phones and computers.  Overall, I believe I am better off with it than without it as I value being able to work where and how I like.

As a member of our recruiting committee, I see promising faces of law school students often.  The best advice I can give to them and to anyone seeking employment is to talk to as many attorneys in the firm as possible to get a broad sense of the people with whom you will be working.  It is the intangible climate at the firm that can make a difference.  Seeing people you enjoy interacting with on a daily basis makes practicing law much more enjoyable.  Having mentors within your work place to whom you feel comfortable speaking is critical for long term success."

To learn more about the other profiled women lawyers in our Women in Law series, click here.

Amanda Matinsek is the president of Thacker Martinsek LPA. She has been with her firm for two years (since it was founded in 2010) and has been practicing law for almost 20 years. She practices in the areas of corporate and general civil litigations, as well as insurance coverage. 

“I just attended a lunch where a Delegate of the Superior General for the General Curia of the Society of Jesus answered questions about the role of women in the Catholic Church.  In sum, he explained that, while women cannot be ordained, because of the unique skills and abilities of women, the Church has always found roles that permit women to 'run' and to 'administrate' Church organizations - even though they cannot administer the sacraments to parishioners.

I believe that law, too, is a vocation.  Women have fought to obtain law degrees since Arabella Mansfield joined the Iowa bar in 1869.  And, since obtaining law degrees, women have fought  to make those degrees meaningful.  That fight continues in many different ways and on many different levels.  But, because we are fundamentally a nation of laws, the practice of law offers unique opportunities to women.  I believe that simply by walking in to work and practicing law, women foment change and set places at the table for themselves and for others.  There are not many careers that are both a means and an end.”

To learn more about the other profiled women lawyers featured in our Women in Law series, click here.

Deborah Read is the managing partner at the Thompson Hine law firm, Cleveland, Ohio office. She has been with the firm for 25 years and has been practicing law for 30 years.

"Women bring gender diversity to the workplace, and that diversity enriches the problem solving and decision making at law firms.  Diversity in gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and age is a business imperative for any law firm that strives for excellence.  Clients want law firms that mirror themselves and their customer bases.  Discussion and problem solving by diverse groups allow a broader range of perspectives to be considered.  This typically results in the evaluation of more comprehensive information and different approaches to a problem, yielding a better decision.  Thompson Hine views diversity as a business necessity.  We conduct and promote a number of programs to achieve a diverse workplace and supplier base.  We believe we deliver better results to our clients as a result of our ongoing focus on diversity."

To learn about the other profiled women lawyers in our Women in Law series, click here.

The Spring 2012 issue of The Women's Book Magazine showcases eight women lawyers making strides in their law firms. A recent study on the status of women in law by Catalyst, a leading nonprofit membership organization that conducts research to expand opportunities for women in business, reveals, “...it will take more than a woman lawyer’s (born in 2010) lifetime to achieve equality.” And with women, as of 2010, making up roughly 31 percent of all lawyers, the outlook for parity in the near future appears bleak.

Those in search of a silver lining to this gender gap will be pleased to know that the percentage of women making partner in law firms has been steadily increasing in recent years. According to Catalyst, in 2011, women comprised 19.5% of partners in U.S. law firms, up from 15.6% in 2000.

The continuation of The Women's Book's "Women in Law" article series showcases the status of womenin law firms.  It features a snapshot of statistics and perspectices of leading women lawyers from firms in Cicinnati, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio.  They provide insidhts on their firm's commitment to advancing women and clients, and the impact of new dynamics such as technology on the way their firms do business. 

Featured Women:

• Debbie Read: Managing Partner - Thompson Hine (Cleveland)
• Amanda Martinsek: President, Thacker, Martinsek LPA (Cleveland)

• Christine A. Buttress: Partner, Graydon Head (Cincinnati)
• Tonya Blosser Braun: Associate, Jones Day (Columbus)
• Janice M. Flowers: Owner, JMF Attorney at Law LLC (Columbus)
• Erika L. Haupt: Partner-in-Charge, Roetzel & Andress (Columbus)
• Susan D. Rector: Partner, Ice Miller LLP (Columbus)
• Stephanie P. Union: Director, Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter (Columbus)