I doubt I need point out to any of my readers the front-page story in today's Sunday New York Times' Business Section (above the fold, even!) headlined, "Up the Down Staircase:  Why Do So Few Women Reach the Top of Big Law Firms," but in case you missed it, here it is.

And here's my Letter to the Editor in response.

This issue—the relative paucity of women in senior positions at large firms—is one that, I will now share with you, has troubled me for some time.  But dwelling on "troublesome" issues, unless I have something concrete to recommend, is not the stock in trade of "Adam Smith, Esq."  Nevertheless, it's klieg-light clear that the under-representation of women in the partner ranks of AmLaw 200 firms has for many years now not been the simple issue of the "pipeline."

My best guess at the explanation appears in my letter to the editor (noted above). 

What are your theories?