Women in Criminal Law: A Practical Guide for Inclusive and Thriving Workplaces - Maryam Ahranjani

Women in Criminal Law: A Practical Guide for Inclusive and Thriving Workplaces Maryam Ahranjani ISBN 9781639057122

At a 2019 ABA Women in Criminal Justice Task Force listening session, Federal Defender Andrea George compared practicing criminal law as a woman to “playing football in a dress.” Women in Criminal Law examines the persistent and deeply rooted barriers to gender equity faced by criminal lawyers, explores best practices for meaningful change, and highlights inspiring trailblazers who have helped implement systemic reforms. While the book is essential reading for anyone committed to a more just criminal legal system, it will also resonate with anyone who has experienced or witnessed inequitable treatment based on gender or other personal characteristics, offering powerful stories of perseverance and resilience.

Building on the momentum of ABA Resolution 501—Ten Steps to Achieve Gender Equity in the Criminal Legal Profession, unanimously adopted by the ABA House of Delegates in 2023—the book draws on the editor’s leadership as Reporter of the ABA Criminal Justice Section Women in Criminal Justice Task Force (2019–2023) and Co-Chair of the ABA Criminal Justice Section Women in Criminal Justice Committee (2022–2024). Its contributors include a diverse group of criminal lawyers and judges from across the United States who are pursuing justice for their clients and communities while balancing professional and personal responsibilities. The book candidly addresses challenges faced both in the courtroom and behind the scenes, including disrespect from colleagues, judges, clients, and court staff. Contributors’ lived experiences as women with intersecting identities provide nuanced insight into what remains broken—and how it can be fixed.

Women in Criminal Law presents the latest research on gender equity in the legal profession; offers perspectives from prosecutors, public defenders, and other women criminal lawyers; explains each of the Ten Principles through real-world success stories and cautionary lessons; highlights the guidance of respected judges; outlines strategies for self-advocacy for women and non-binary individuals; and compiles the published work of the Task Force.

The book serves as a valuable resource for current and future law students, a practical reference for legal employers seeking to foster gender inclusivity, and a unifying call to solidarity within the criminal legal profession.

Women in Criminal Law: A Practical Guide for Inclusive and Thriving Workplaces Maryam Ahranjani ISBN 9781639057122, 978-1639057122 & 9781639057139

Author
Maryam Ahranjani