What you (OP) say rings true. I come from a legal background and woman lawyers often get ignored. They end up changing their personalities in order to be taken seriously. Hence they end up very stern and don't engage in the usual banter.
My advice to young lawyers, women in particular: when in doubt, glare.
Here is a recent example from a powerful woman in Australia: http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at- ... 484727de32.