Episode 31-Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling

In this episode, I speak with Hether Cahill. Hether is a partner at the Boston law firm Burns & Levinson where she handles probate litigation.  Hether and I discuss the path to partnership for women and why she likes family conflict. Introduction The majority of law school graduates are now women. Despite this demographic change, the growth of women in partnership ranks in major law firms continues to stagnate. While there are many explanations for this (women still bear a greater burden for child rearing than men and are penalized for that; men have some advantages in cultivating business relationships), there are women who manage to buck the trend and break through the glass ceiling. Over the next few months I will be interviewing women who have achieved this and made it past the barriers. They will be telling their stories, what it was like then and offer tips for younger women are hoping to elevate their legal careers. Hether Cahill is one of those women. I met Hether through my ProVisors networking group and I was impressed with her enthusiasm for handling family conflict, something that many of us would much rather avoid. But Hether’s obvious enjoyment of this work is infectious so I invited her to be on the show. Hether grew up as the daughter of a single mother who was practicing law in Berkshire County. Her mother was a great role model for her and today Hether enjoys being a part of the partnership ranks at one of Boston's prominent midsize law firms.  Hether talks about what it is like to be a female partner at a major firm and offers some advice for younger lawyers who share her ambition.