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Throughout history, women have broken barriers, challenged norms, and reshaped the legal profession. This Women’s History Month, we take a moment to celebrate the talented attorneys at Bousquet Holstein PLLC who continue to make an impact in their fields and communities.
In this special feature, we sit down with our attorneys as they share the lessons they’ve learned, and what it means to be a woman in law today.
Join us as we honor their contributions, reflect on the progress made, and look ahead to the future of women in the legal profession.
Do you have any advice for women looking to become attorneys?
“I know this is a pretty male-dominated profession, so stay true to who you are. There will be stereotypes for women, even depending on your skin tone, but stay true to who you are and remember you’re as smart and capable as your peers. We need more women attorneys.”
“I encourage more women in general to get into the legal profession and get into these professional areas, because we need more women in them. Don't be afraid to do what you want to do and be yourself. Because regardless of who you are, there is a place for you – no matter where you want to go.”
Have you faced challenges being a woman in a male-dominated field and if so, how did you overcome them?
“Absolutely, especially in law school. Sometimes I felt either unheard or I felt that I was put into a stereotype, and I could see that. I just did my thing and stayed true to who I was. I didn’t change or do anything different because of what people thought of me.
Being a Black woman in school and this profession, sometimes you can just tell you’re being treated differently, but I try not to let it get to me too much and just keep doing my job. Having a close community helps get you through it – speaking to other attorneys and having girlfriends in law school makes it easier.”
What do you wish more women knew about your area of law?
“Sometimes, because we see this as a male-dominated role, you think you have to act a certain way and you don’t. Your personality has strengths in different areas, and there are so many different areas of law that your personality can be suitable throughout. You can be in whatever area of law you want to be, there’s nothing that is male-specific or anything like that. We empower our clients in ways we may not even realize. Our presence as women often makes people feel more comfortable and supported in a way that can truly make a difference.
“We empower our clients in ways we may not even realize. Our presence as women often makes people feel more comfortable and supported in a way that can truly make a difference.”
What challenges have you faced working in a male-dominated field and how have you overcome them?
“As a female litigator, especially early in my career, I noticed that I tended to be underestimated.
Litigators are always looking for weaknesses in their opposition. I’d walk into the courtroom and immediately they perceived me as weak not only because I was young but because I was a woman. I tried to use that to my advantage. It could be fun at times because I’d often catch opposing counsel – sometimes even the judges – off guard. They weren’t expecting a young woman to be loud, confident, and outspoken. As I’ve gotten older and I’ve developed more of a reputation in the area, I can’t use that trick anymore. But the prejudice still exists in other ways…”
What challenges do you see, specifically with your female clients?
“I’ve had many women come to me after they initially retained a different attorney but felt that they weren’t taking her seriously or her voice wasn’t being heard. That’s a struggle many women can relate to. Women come to me because they know I’ll listen and understand.”
What do you wish more women knew about your area of law?
“You have options. If you run into a situation that you feel is unfair, you will find someone who will listen and is willing to fight for you. I’ve seen a lot of clients, especially older women, come to me and say, ‘I put up with this for so long, but I can’t anymore.’ Women should know that the law is for them, and you should assert your rights earlier. Know the value of standing up for yourself.”
“Know the value of standing up for yourself.”
What are some challenges you faced being a woman in a male-dominated field, and how did you overcome them?
“Even as a young lawyer, the challenge was having to prove that I knew what I was talking about. To overcome it, I became an expert so there would be no questions.”
What are some ways you've tried to mentor and pave the way for other women in the legal industry?
“Practicing law intentionally and remembering that not everyone is represented in the room and that it’s our responsibility as lawyers and as women to represent them. Sometimes young women may not appreciate how much has changed since I began practicing and we can’t forget that.”
“It’s encouraging to see so many women come into the profession, and I hope our profession is kind to them.”
Have you seen the legal challenges and goals of your female clients change over the years?
“Yes, I do think there’s an increased interest by women to have more control and a better understanding of their assets, which is encouraging. My women clients are much more engaged in the process. They ask good questions and they challenge me.”
“Even as a young lawyer, the challenge was having to prove that I knew what I was talking about. To overcome it, I became an expert so there would be no questions.”
Do you have any advice for women looking to become an attorney?
“Just do it. There is nothing within this profession that wasn’t made for us to do. Women have naturally grown this field in ways that allowed people to get more rights and be heard on a level that was never done before. Had it not been for women, I'm not sure where the law would stand today. Women should just do it and not let anything get in the way, even though there will be a lot of obstacles. When things are intended for you and you’re the best at it, sometimes you have to work a little harder to get there.”
What are some ways you've tried to mentor or pave the way for other women in the legal industry?
“I speak up. I especially speak up when I’m most afraid to, and I do that because women are often silenced at the table, and because of this. I feel it's absolutely necessary to make sure women's voices from all backgrounds are heard in some capacity, so I purposefully speak up. I think that empowers other women to also speak up and be confident.”
What do you wish more women knew about litigation?
“Women are also fierce by nature, and I think with litigation we are able to problem-solve in ways that could effectively change the culture of traditional approaches taken in litigation. While this area of law illustrates more of the male dominated and traditional ways of law, it often minimizes women in a way where it can push us out. Because this obstacle is a given, I want women to understand that we are meant for it. We naturally have the skillset to protect, defend, and go to bat for our clients in a way that’s passionate, caring, and most importantly professional, and we should continue to strive to exist in the areas that try to push us out.”
“I feel it's absolutely necessary to make sure women's voices from all backgrounds are heard in some capacity, so I purposefully speak up.”
What challenges have you faced being a woman in a male-dominated field?
“When I started my career, I was one of the only women matrimonial attorneys in Central New York. You asked me earlier about mentors – I didn’t have the opportunity to have a female mentor because there weren’t any around. The women who were around back then were struggling so hard to make it in their own careers that they weren’t going to have the bandwidth to help me.
I often got called things like ‘honey’ or ‘sweetheart.’ I’d walk in the room, and they’d ask if I was the secretary.”
Have you seen the legal challenges or goals of your female clients change over the years?
“Absolutely, yes. Women are incredibly more independent than they were when I first started. This is largely because women now have the agency to focus on their careers.
Most of the prenuptial agreements I work on nowadays are asked for by women. Women are understanding how large of a commitment marriage is and are motivated to protect their independence and the life they’ve worked hard to build. I think it’s great!”
What do you wish more women knew about your area of law?
“People hate to hear it, but prenuptial agreements are one of the best ways you can protect your future. It’s not a bad thing, and it doesn’t mean you don’t love the person. It protects both parties in a marriage. And separating your bank accounts is not going to cut it. Any money/income/assets you acquire when you’re married belongs to the couple. Doesn’t matter where you put the money. It’s important for people to know that and it’s important for women to make sure they are protected.”
What are some ways you've mentored or paved the way for other women in the legal industry?
“Being a mentor to other women is incredibly rewarding. I did not have that female mentorship when starting my career – there were hardly any other women attorneys practicing matrimonial law at that time. I know firsthand how hard it was, and it’s truly heartwarming to see the many incredible young women who are lawyers/becoming lawyers now. Young attorneys bring a new perspective to things. And in law, that’s incredibly important. It’s what keeps you knowledgeable.”
“More women are motivated to protect their independence and the life they’ve worked hard to build before their marriage. I think it’s great!.”
What challenges have you faced being a woman in a male-dominated field and how did you overcome them?
“It’s very common to feel like you’re being underestimated as a young woman in this field. When that happens, I just try to remind myself that I got myself to the position that I'm in on my own by working hard and that I deserve to be here. I know what I'm capable of, and I am ambitious in many ways so my work product speaks for itself, which helps me at times of self-doubt, and definitely helps me feel more confident in my position.
So long as you’re authentic, you’ll be confident in what you do and excel. Don't try to mold yourself into what you think you should be in the field because that will only hold you back.”
What is the best part about being an attorney?
“For me, the best part about being an attorney is getting a resolution that a client is grateful for and being able to help them get there. There's no better feeling than knowing you made a positive difference in someone's life, especially in the matrimonial and family matters.”
What are some ways you've tried to pave the way for other women in the legal industry?
“I am the first person in my family to go to grad school, and navigated law school not knowing what to expect or having any mentors in that capacity. So, I feel passionately about mentoring students, whether it’s high school to college, college to grad school, or college to law school. Next steps can be very intimidating if you don’t know what to expect. I try to mentor and pave the way for students because the decisions you make during that time can be very pivotal for your career path.”
“So long as you’re authentic, you’ll be confident in what you do and excel. Don't try to mold yourself into what you think you should be. That will only hold you back.”
What made you interested in law, specifically tax law?
“I joke that I wanted to become a lawyer to not do math and now I’m a tax attorney and deal with numbers all the time! But in reality, I love puzzles and I like to put pieces together to solve a problem. I certainly want to help people, and I see the law as a vehicle for doing that. One of the ways I thought I could make the most difference as a lawyer is because I inherently like problem solving.
I went to law school thinking I would be a litigator. I love preparing for trial and I love the intensity of that. I had a really great professor in law school who taught tax law, and he made it so accessible and understandable, and it's a topic that tends to feel so impenetrable. It opened a world I had never experienced before, and it was fascinating to me. So, I sort of stumbled into it. I love working with clients that like working with us. Generally in tax, we’re all trying to solve a problem and it’s a collegial kind of atmosphere, and I really enjoy that dynamic in my work.”
Do you have any advice for women looking to become attorneys?
“Try to get a multitude of experiences and don't close yourself off from a specific area of the law. Cast a wide net and speak to people who work in a wide variety of areas. Try to do internships, and understand that the law is a lot deeper than what you see on TV. Be open to trying new things and step outside of your comfort zone, because you never know what you’ll find. I wouldn’t have the career I have today if I hadn’t.”
What do you wish more women knew about your area of law?
“It's not scary! Everyone can do numbers. Tax lawyers rate higher in happiness than most areas of law, and we get to do fascinating things with amazing collaborates and clients. I love going down to the city and point out to my kids the buildings I've worked on. I like seeing the tangible result. Pointing to something and saying ‘I helped make that happen' is really fun.”
“Be open to trying new things and step outside of your comfort zone, because you never know what you’ll find. I wouldn’t have the career I have today if I hadn’t.”