In Praise of Independent Women Lawyers
By Susan Smith Blakely • July 06, 2017 •Careers, Other Career Issues
Happy Independence Day! Yes, it is about small town parades, fireworks and sparklers, burgers on the grill, mountains of ice cream, and being together with family and friends. It only comes once a year, so knock yourself out! But, during the festivities, do not forget about the "independence" part. I am not just talking about the Declaration of Independence or what it has meant to the evolution of this country where we all enjoy freedoms and independence unparalleled in the world. That is the focus, but it goes much further than that. It is about national independence and also about…
You’ll Move Mountains, Kid: By Mastering Minutes as a Mommy!
By Joanna Nakamoto • July 08, 2017 •Careers, Law School, Other Law School Issues, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life
When I began law school as a single mother of two small children, I did not fully appreciate how much hard work it was going to take to be both a successful law student and a good mother at the same time. It has been extremely hard. At times, I have been very overwhelmed, stretched far too thin, and daydreamed about how nice it would be to have a personal assistant, babysitter and secretary at my disposal. Since law school consumes a lot of brainpower and time on an everyday basis, it’s important to learn how to master your minutes…
A Word on Party References
By Anna Swift • July 05, 2017 •Writers in Residence
One of the first decisions I made as a practicing attorney following my judicial clerkship concerned how to refer in my legal writing to the defendant I was representing. As a judicial clerk, the decision had been easy: I was to continue the method established in previous judicial opinions of referring to the defendant in the case for which an opinion was being drafted by party name (i.e., "the Defendant") after her or his full name was given. In contrast, as a practicing attorney no longer bound to any one way, the decision on how to refer to my client suddenly became my own, and…
Failure Turned Inside Out: Pay It Forward
By Patricia Jjemba • July 05, 2017 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Other Career Issues, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Mentoring and Networking
Name: Kimberly Amrine Professional Title: Director of Diversity & Inclusion for Frost Brown Todd, LLC Sector: Private Law School: George Washington University Law School Things eventually came to a head. Like many recent college graduates, Kim did not know what she was going to do after she graduated from Northwestern University. After all, she did not particularly love school. So, she packed up her little Honda Civic and moved to Washington D.C. Her interest in politics eventually led her to apply for jobs on Capitol Hill. But most of the jobs on the Hill were unpaid and she needed to…
Re-thinking the OCI Process: Is This Law Firm a Good Fit for Me?
By Alnisa Bell • July 05, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector
I recently participated as a mock interviewer to prepare rising second year law students for their on-campus interviews (otherwise known as “OCI”). OCI begins right about now when rising second year law students are also learning whether they have been accepted to write for a law journal and/or will compete on Moot Court -- both of which are important in garnering a coveted summer associate position. To put it simply, it is a very stressful and competitive time. The OCI interviews are very quick -- about twenty minutes or less -- and serve as the initial screening process for law firms.…
Take Two: The Journey to Retaking the Bar—What I wish I knew, Part 1
By Eisha Vatsal • July 05, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Law School, Issues, Mentoring and Networking
At work, I try to take twenty-minute walks twice a day with some friends. During these walks, we stretch out our legs, get some exercise, and talk about the craziness of our cases. Often times the topics of student loans, what I wished I knew before law school or Trump’s antics come up. While I will refrain from discussing my views on politics here, I do want to discuss the other two, potentially in multiple posts. Student Loans I am fortunate that I do not have student loans, but that does not mean I do not understand and sympathize with…
Swimming Lessons for Baby Sharks: Practical Advice for New Lawyers
By Grover E. Cleveland • July 07, 2017 •Careers, Firms and the Private Sector
Q: I am new at the firm, and I have a legal assistant who has already saved me several times. She is invaluable, and I wanted to show my appreciation, so I invited her to lunch. At first, she eagerly accepted, but as the date was approaching she declined, saying she thought it was better if she did not go to lunch. How can I show my appreciation without having things get awkward? A: Yes. I realize the reference to “the date,” was not intended as a pun, but that may be part of the issue. Your legal assistant may…
Monthly Mantra: Finding Health and Wellness in the Law
By Dierdra Howard • July 05, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues, Issues, Other Issues
Mantra: I possess the internal fire to manifest my desires. Summer has finally arrived. In this month of fireworks and rising temperatures, are you stoking your internal fire to manifest your desires and intentions? You have to stay the course. Manifesting the desires of your heart requires work. You must have a clear vision of your goals and do everything feasible on your end to bring them to fruition. Once that’s done, the real work begins. You have to release control of your desires to the universe and allow them to manifest at the right time and in the right…
Summer & A Sigh of Relief
By Jacqueline Leung • July 05, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Nonprofits and the Public Interest, Other Career Issues, Law School, Choosing a Career and Landing a Job, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life
The past month and a half has been a difficult time for me. We have had illnesses (my children, my partner, and I), sadness, stress, and transition difficulties. In addition, the number of work hours from my current job dropped, and I am working less than part-time. After several agonizing weeks, and consultation with several individuals, I made an important, yet difficult decision to postpone taking the bar. It came down to finances and personal health issues impacting my family and I -- I chose my family. The decision was not easy to make. I still feel slightly disappointed. Yet,…