Tips for Summer Associates: Get the deadline… and the budget
By Lydia R.B. Kelley • February 28, 2007 •Firms and the Private Sector
Be sure when you receive an assignment to know the deadline. If the assigning attorney does not give you a deadline, ask for it. Also be sure to receive the budget for a project. The budget is the time the assigning attorney expects you to spend on the project. Many summer associates do not appreciate the importance of the budget. The budget is critical because the time you spend on a project will translate into hours billed to a client. When you ask for the budget or the amount of time to be spent on a project, the responses may…
To ring or not to ring?
By Yes, Virginia • February 27, 2007 •Other Career Issues
I know that my school's career services office has its own line on this question (do what you feel comfortable with), but the ring dilemma seems to come up every interview season. The WSJ blog The Juggle has posted on this here, and it seems there are many opinions out there. Basically, there is no real bright line rule, which indicates the question will linger on. (I also recommend checking out the post's comments, which include many from lawyers and former lawyers.) Has anyone here had negative (or positive) ring experiences in interviews? Or does it really not matter (as…
Sure, you passed the bar, but are you relationship material?
By Yes, Virginia • February 27, 2007 •Balancing Private and Professional Life
Valentine’s Day has already passed, and this is therefore coming late, but I was interested in this post two weeks ago in the Wall Street Journal’s Law Blog entitled “Lawyers in Love” (this was the second part of a two-part series; the first was the lyrics of a 1983 song by Jackson Browne, which I will spare you). A lot of the more “life” posts at this blog and others are frequently externally oriented, by which I mean they are focused outward (towards employers, towards institutions, towards spouses or significant others) with their observations and comments. I don’t mean to…
The Bar Exam
By granolagoddess • February 23, 2007 •Firms and the Private Sector
I am getting ready to take the bar exam for Washington State next week. It is ironic that I am trying to categoraize myself on this website, for my login information. I am no longer a student, not since December 2006, but am I really a professional, yet? I have a JD, but no bar affiliation, so what does that make me. We shall revisit this come May, when bar results return. Till then...yours... Elizabeth Alexander, J.D., but not yet a lawyer.
Help Protest an Offensive Mock Trial Rape Case
By femlaw • February 22, 2007 •Other Issues
To my fellow women and our allies— I am writing to inform you of a mock trial fictional case to be used in a national competition that involves sexist stereotyping of female rape victims. On February 20, the Texas Young Lawyers Association and American College of Trial Lawyers posted a fact scenario for their national championship tournament, in which a popular football player is accused of raping Krista Chicona, a promiscuous massage therapist who is thought to enjoy sadomasochist sex [http://www.tyla.org/advocacy_ntc.html]. Somewhere in America, a woman is raped approximately every two minutes, but less than one half of rapes are…
My first legal mentor
By Miss Feasance • February 22, 2007 •Mentoring and Networking
“You should really learn to be more humble,” my college guidance counselor told me. I was seventeen years old, alienated from my parents, a scholarship student at a very expensive high school, an opinionated and outspoken young woman with only male teachers and administrators, about to go before the judicial committee, and my arrogance was all I had to fight back the feeling that my life and plans were completely out of my control and quickly unraveling. But there was a mom, my boyfriend’s mom, a successful corporate attorney mom, who stepped in and stopped the unraveling for me. When…
Federalists v. women?
By Yes, Virginia • February 20, 2007
While not reading for class tomorrow I came across this post at Feminist Law Professors, pointing out the lack of women in the Federalist Society’s 2007 Student Symposium. My count confirms that out of 19 panelists, 16 are men and 3 are women; of 6 moderators, 5 are men. Needless to say, the keynote speaker is a man. As my original source pointedly points out, the Federalists’ counterpoint, the American Constitutional Society, had much better numbers at their 2006 symposium. (I’ll admit I didn’t count, because there were many more speakers, but informally looking at the brochure reveals at least…
Bye-bye Buchanan, Hello Brown Stone Nimeroff
By Legal Eagle • February 20, 2007 •Firms and the Private Sector
News from Philadelphia: three female partners quit to launch their own firm. "[Founding partner Antoinette R. Stone] said as a woman-owned business, the firm will work to obtain opportunities given to women and minority-owned firms by the city and other organizations." Read more at New York Lawyer (free site registration required).
An Open Call for Commentary
By Anna Nelson • February 20, 2007 •Other Issues
As one of the people helping build this Ms. JD website, I have been getting thoughtful, intelligent emails asking us to more prominently feature and foster women of color, lesbians, and other minorities who face distinct challenges in the legal profession. Ms. JD was founded by women of several ethnicities, sexualities, and experiences. But not all of us are bloggers. Speaking only for myself, I say to readers who want to hear--and see--more from not-white, not-straight women in law: post here! Refer colleagues and classmates. Share thoughts, start conversations. Make this place yours. About the Author Anna Lorien Nelson is…