Ann Israel is the legal profession's Dear Abby. A New York legal recruiter since 1979, Ann is a past president of the National Association of Legal Search Consultants. Advice for the Lawlorn is updated every Tuesday.

Q:Just an update -- I recently submitted a question that you answered about being a minority woman trying to find a job after not receiving a summer offer. Well, you were right! I landed a great position in a Vault100 firm.

The only thing that I'm concerned about is that there are no minority female partners in the office that I am working in (and it's the headquarters office!), and there are only five minority male partners out of the approximately 350 attorneys.

Should I be concerned?

Sincerely,
Cloud 9

Dear Cloud 9: I am so pleased that you are up there floating -- what a happy ending! I frequently ask people to keep in touch and let us know how things worked out, and I am happy that you did so. Just as a reminder about your situation, here is the question you had originally submitted: http://www.law.com/jsp/law/careercenter/lawArticleCareerCenter.jsp?id=1172570590801

All's well that ends well in your case -- you are now at a top law firm, and not only that, you are at the main office. Clearly, this firm saw your potential and didn't care about the insanity that went on with your 2L employer. Congratulations!

I certainly can understand your concern that there are only five minority partners at this firm and, of those five, none of them are female. Unfortunately, although your firm has less minority partners than the national norm, I suspect that they are not that much different from other firms of their size. Get ready for some startling statistics. According to a study done in November 2006 by the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), "minority women constitute just 1.48% of partners in the nation's major law firms ... minority men ... account for just 3.53% of partners."

NALP's study is an analysis of the small gains made nationally of the addition of minority partners -- male and female -- to the major law firms. It's an eye-opener and something you should read: http://www.nalp.org/press/details.php?id=64

Now, let's address your specific concern. Do I think you should be worried at this point in your career about your partnership potential at this particular law firm? No, I think you have other matters to focus on at this time. Based on what you have told us about yourself, you are a very junior attorney, someone who is really just starting out on your career.

You are correct to be wary about this firm -- partnership is elusive enough, and your firm has a bad track record with female minorities. But the good news is that you have time on your side. Be the best that you can be and learn as much as possible in your first few years of practice there. Three or four years from now you will have a better sense of your position at this firm, and at that time you will be ready to make a lateral move to a firm where your partnership track will be more solid.

For now, keep floating on cloud 9! You did it! You succeeded just when you thought you were never going to get into a major law firm. Keep focused on that and remember where you are headed. Quite frankly, based on what you have done so far, it wouldn't surprise me to hear that one day in the future you will be asked to be the first female minority partner at this firm! But that's a long way away, and you have so much to do before you cross that bridge. There are so many opportunities that will come your way in the next seven or eight years before partnership looms before you -- take it one day at a time!

Best wishes, and definitely stay in touch!

Sincerely,
Ann Israel
President, Ann Israel & Associates