When Duffee + Eitzen partner Marilea W. Lewis graduated from Baylor University School of Law in 1978, she was a rarity on the law school campus. Nine out of 10 law school students were men at that time.

When firm co-founder Melinda Eitzen graduated from the University of Houston School of Law and started her first job 30 years ago, she joined a 40-lawyer firm as the firm’s only woman lawyer. At her second law firm job, she was one of only two women on the team.

The legal profession has made important gender-equity progress since then, and Lewis and Eitzen have been at the forefront of these changes, navigating challenges and opportunities while serving as mentors and role models. 

Lewis is widely recognized for her trailblazing career. She served more than two decades as a Texas judge before returning to private practice. 

Eitzen was among the first wave of women lawyers to found their own firms. Today, Duffee + Eitzen is widely recognized for its ability to handle complex family law disputes. In addition to founding Duffee + Eitzen, Eitzen was instrumental in the creation of collaborative divorce law in Texas. 

Eitzen and Lewis are each recognized among the Top 50 women lawyers in Texas in the 2024 edition of Texas Super Lawyers, published by Thomson Reuters. In addition, Eitzen is recognized among the Top 100 lawyers in Texas, while Lewis is named among the Top 100 in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. We sat down with Marilea and Melinda to discuss their barrier-breaking careers, the gender gap in the legal profession, and the challenges and opportunities that women lawyers face today in a historically male-dominated field.

How has the practice of law changed in terms of gender equity and women lawyers since you got started?

Lewis: The practice of law was very much male-dominated when I began. I think it is interesting to note the systemic change that began with law school enrollment. Women were only 10% of the student body in my law school when I began law school. Now, enrollment is much more balanced. 

Eitzen: There are many more women in the practice now than 30 years ago when I started. At my first firm I was the only woman and the only lawyer under 40. At my next firm I was the second woman. After six years in practice, Lisa [Duffee] and I saw an opportunity to found this firm. That was rare at the time, and it was an opportunity that would have been far more difficult for previous generations of women lawyers. 

Have you experienced career challenges because you are a woman lawyer? If so, what were they and how did you navigate them?

Lewis: There were challenges when I was a young lawyer. Some of the male judges and attorneys assumed that I was not serious about a career — meaning they thought I would give up the practice of law as soon as I had children. Others were very patronizing. It was not unusual to be called “little lady,” “Hon” or other names that were not used for men. I found I could capitalize on the presumption that I was just a “little lady.” It is always easier to gain a tactical advantage when your opponent underestimates you.

What challenges remain for women lawyers today?

Lewis: I think that challenges remain for young lawyers of either sex. The practice of law has become so very specialized that a new lawyer has to select an area of law, sometimes without adequate exposure to other areas of practice. That can mean being in a less rewarding practice.

Eitzen: I think in all fields women are still not paid equitably compared to men for the same job. A recruiter once told me it is because men more heavily negotiate for each raise and advocate for themselves more than women. I have seen that to be true with our employees. Women are more likely to just accept what is offered in the form of a raise at the annual review. 

What advice do you have for women considering law as a career?

Lewis: Anyone considering law as a career needs to understand that it is a profession. It is not “just a job.” Clients often have unreasonable expectations. An attorney needs to learn how to manage those expectations. And, appearance does count. That means standards of conduct as well as performance.

What advice do you have for young women lawyers?

Lewis: Find an area of practice about which you are passionate; don’t just work. Life is too short to not look forward to each day.

Eitzen: I would advise all young women to advocate for themselves.  Point out how they have brought value to the firm. 

Does the practice of family law present any special challenges or opportunities for women lawyers?

Lewis: Family law presents special challenges because a family law practitioner often becomes a quasi-therapist. It requires that the attorney set and maintain boundaries. Clients in family law cases are in crisis. Their cases can impact every facet of life – marriage, children, property – and their future.

Eitzen: But there are also new opportunities. I think the practice of law, especially now with more of a zoom/remote option, can lend itself to having both career and family.  And you earn enough to hire help — housekeeping or nanny. 

Is there anything else you’d like to say before we sign off?

Lewis: I was asked to be one of the speakers for the young women in a new class of law students. The Assistant Dean told me to add something personal because it might be a dry presentation. Based upon that, I shared with the young women two hard-learned lessons. First, find a great shade of lipstick that makes you feel good and doesn’t smudge. It might be costly, but it adds to your confidence.  Second, invest in good shoes. They offer better support for your feet and (strangely) clients notice good shoes.