Julie Gerchik, a litigation partner in the Century City office of Glaser Weil, was up until 3:30 in the morning baking pies close to Thanksgiving. She still had to be at work by 8:30.

"My 5-year-old loves baking," she said.

Gerchik made the conscious decision to make homemade pies so her child could help earlier in the evening, knowing that it would mean a long day on short rest.

It's a decision professional women frequently have to make. For many women, regardless of education level, professional success or the presence of a supportive and progressive partner,  the "traditional" holiday responsibilities of family organizing, cooking, children's activities and entertaining still fall on their shoulders.

"In our society, I think women are disproportionately expected to take on the 'traditional' role," Gerchik said. "Working women in particular are still expected to do it all, and that is difficult."

Gerchik noted that she believes most women who take on the traditional duties as well as a high-powered career want to be doing both; they aren't forced. But that doesn't make it any easier.

"Yeah, it can be a stressful time for sure," Christina Sarchio, a litigation partner for Dechert in Washington, D.C., said. "Holiday cards, parties, holiday show for the kids. It can be stressful."

Sarchio said she has a very supportive partner and a division of labor that allows them to get through the holiday season in one piece.

But she said she does feel an expectation to do those traditional duties and that she doesn't think she is alone in feeling the pressure the holidays can put on professional women, even if they do want to be undertaking these activities.

"There is some comfort in knowing that others are doing this," she said. "They may not be talking about it, but we should. Some of my friends feel guilty if they don't make homemade cookies for events."

Work to Be Done

Taking on these traditional responsibilities in no way allows for a break from these women's normal vigorous working schedule. They just add to it.

For Heidi Levine, partner and co-leader of the global liability and mass torts practice at Sidley Austin in New York, that means planning with her team becomes key.

"We put a schedule together as to who is out when and who is on call," she said.

Levine says she hopes to set a good example to the younger associates on her team to let them know that while they do need to work hard, it is important to take time to rejuvenate and spend time with family and friends.

A few elements come into play in order to make this happen. Levine said having a strong relationship with both her clients as well as her adversaries in pending cases allows her and her team to set proper expectations for what needs to get done when.

"We have strong relationships with our clients,"  she said. "They are respectful of our time and how hard we work for them. They understand we need to take some time off for the holidays."

Levine said she and her husband head down to Florida to go biking, golfing and see family and friends.

But she also has an office there, and she expects to be working at least part of the time she is visiting.

"I want to spend as much time as I can with my parents," she said. "I will work, but it is hard to come back on Jan. 2 and not be recharged."

Even through the late night baking and an upcoming holiday trip to Cabo San Lucas, Julie Gerchik anticipates working as well.

"I typically check my emails, and my clients have my mobile phone," she said. "But we try and get everything done beforehand. I try not to work when we are away, but things come up."

She said her firm is very supportive of working parents and is understanding about the need to take time around the holidays, which makes it easier. She also noted that she and others in her position are fortunate to have the means to afford help over the holidays.

"If you don't have the financial resources to get that additional support, it makes it disproportionately harder," she said. "Having resources can lessen the burden."

Dechert's Sarchio also is planning to juggle her responsibilities over the holidays this year.

"I will still be working," she said. "But we get enough done to where everyone gets to have some reprieve."

She said her practice has been busier than usual this year, but through planning and teamwork, her outfit is able to get all the work done and still get some rest.

"I'm fortunate. I'm blessed with a good team of younger lawyers who work with me. I talk to the team, and we figure out a strategy," she said.

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