Don’t Call Me “Honey”: Female Lawyers Fight Paternalistic Pander

The National Association of Women Lawyers wants to update the American Bar Association’s model rules of professional conduct to keep practicing lawyers from hearing things like “honey” and “dear” while doing their jobs. “I got a pat on the head,” said NAWL chief executive Jenny Waters, in reference to the kind of condescending attitude she routinely encountered during her legal career. Bar associations in 23 states and the District of Columbia already have added harassment and discrimination amendments to their conduct rules, but the proposal would create a national rule. Critics of the proposal say it would inhibit lawyers from speaking freely on behalf of their clients, and have a chilling effect on a lawyers’ right to practice free speech.