We are living in a time where staggering numbers of women—especially female attorneys—are struggling to balance work and life responsibilities and are searching for the support they need to grow and thrive in their careers.

The statistics are harsh: 2.5 million women have left the workforce since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to a myriad of reasons ranging from layoffs to lack of child care, women find themselves having to step back from, or completely abandon, their careers. In the legal industry specifically, a substantial number of female minority lawyers were recently reported to have left, or have considered leaving, the profession. This reality presents a worrying picture, especially when coupled with the fact that in 2020, the National Association for Women Lawyers reported that only 21% of women are equity partners at their firms—with only 3% of those women being of color. As women in law firms, we have the obligation to maintain open lines of communication so that women lawyers know they are not alone.