Apply to Join Ms. JD’s Board of Directors!
By Maleaha Brown • January 14, 2020 •Ms. JD
Ms. JD is seeking diverse leaders in the legal community who are passionate about improving the experiences of women law students and lawyers to join our Board of Directors. Ms. JD is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to ensuring the success of aspiring and early career women lawyers. Ms. JD is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of law students and attorneys, who are supported by our Chief Executive Officer, a small group of independent contractors, and our vast network of volunteers. Ms. JD is a 501(c)(3), incorporated in California. Serving as a unique nexus between the legal…
My Top 3 Takeaways from the Ms. JD 2019 NWLSO Leadership Academy
By Angelica Frink Walker • November 25, 2019 •Ms. JD
I had the honor of attending the Ms. JD 2019 NWLSO Leadership Academy, hosted in Cambridge, MA at Harvard Law School, November 22-23, 2019. I was elated for the opportunity to connect with other law students, attorneys, and business professionals, who share the same passion of wanting to see women in the legal field flourish and achieve a playing field equal to their male counterparts. 1. Failure is an Important Reflection Point Upon my arrival to Boston I was greeted with an e-mail from the Air Force JAG Recruitment Chief – informing me that I had not been selected for the November 2019…
Why Can’t Law Firms Retain Their Female and Minority Lawyers? Because Conformity is Exhausting.
By Kim Tran • August 30, 2019 •Writers in Residence
A common topic of conversation among my female professional friends is how much of our work lives are controlled by gender and racial stereotypes. The most common one is being told to smile. I can’t tell you how many times in my working life that a male partner or associate has walked into my office while I was deep in thought working on a brief or an important client memo and looked at me and said, “is there something wrong?” or “are you ok?” When I say that everything is fine, they often say something like, “you’re not smiling, you…
What is the number one piece of career advice you have received?
By Erika Stallings • November 23, 2019 •Writers in Residence
Build real relationships. I put an emphasis on relationships because we currently live in a culture that repeatedly exhorts people to network. But it’s easy to go to an event and collect business cards. It’s another thing to building a relationship with another person. This does require time and energy, along with the willingness to be vulnerable and curious about the person you’re trying to build a relationship with. In a busy profession such as the law that may seem daunting. But I can attest from first hand experience that the investment is worth it. In the fall of 2017…
Types of Lawyers: Deciding What Type Of Lawyer Will You Be.
By Katherine Hernandez • December 12, 2019 •Careers, Law School, Choosing a Career and Landing a Job, Issues, Other Issues
It's your first day at law school, you have a lot in mind but your pure goal is to become a successful lawyer. Law aspirants and even established lawyers may struggle to decide what area of law they want to be an expert with. Going to law schools may spark your thoughts that you will eventually work in renown and large firms practicing corporate law but the truth is that may not happen and you might be directed to another path. We need to remember that all areas of the law are important and it comes handy in different situations. Whether you…
Something Blue: Bringing Blue-Collar Roots to the Legal Profession - Collective Wisdom of 2019
By Molly Timko • December 30, 2019 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Careers, Law School
As a 2019 Ms. JD Writer in Residence, I had the privilege of interviewing some truly inspirational first-generation lawyers/lawyers with blue-collar roots. I learned about their unique paths to law school and the legal profession, and the challenges associated with becoming the first person in their family (or possibly in their community) to become a lawyer. These women also shared some great advice, which I compiled below. It is my hope that first-generation attorneys will continue to share their stories and mentor and support other trailblazers who are climbing up the ladder. Collective Wisdom of 2019: You Can Do It! “You deserve to be where you…
What area of law are you interested in?
By Caambridge Horton • September 03, 2019 •Writers in Residence, Law School
As a second-year law student, I am often asked what area of the law interests me. This is a daunting question because after a whole year of law school and a summer internship, I still am not sure what area of the law I want to pursue. As I continue to ponder this question, I decided to explore the different ways I can get more exposure to the different areas of law. Below is a list of approaches to widen exposure to the different practice areas of law. Clinics Many law schools have clinics that serve as a…
An In-House Counsel’s Maxims for 2020
By Jenny Patten • December 31, 2019 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues
As I prepared for my last column as a Writer in Residence for Ms. JD, I decided to conclude with something that reflects my own personal approach to my in-house practice. Although I’m not a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions, every December I jot down some guiding principles that I use to refine my mid- and long-term professional and career goals. Below are four maxims I’m taking with me into my in-house practice for 2020: Fight the Inertia. Inertia is, by definition, a tendency to remain at rest or remain unchanged. With any new initiative or project that you…
The Best Career Advice I’ve Been Given: Watch Your Feet
By Gabriella Dionise • November 22, 2019 •Writers in Residence, Law School, Pre-Law, Choosing a Career and Landing a Job
I’m clumsy by nature. Not the cute clumsy, where you fall into a handsome man’s arms, but the stub your toe and break it kind of clumsy. I quickly found that I could either live in steel-toed boots or watch my feet as I walked. My favorite summer sandals don’t come in steel-toed options, so down I look. Growing up, this was my parents’ greatest annoyance. They would take me to an art museum, and I would stare at my feet, to the beach, and I would stare at my feet, to a beautiful view, and I would stare at…