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Reflections from a Headhunter & Hiring Partner: Stopping Sexual Harassment (Enough is Enough!)
By Franklyn Kimball • February 22, 2010 •Writers in Residence
It’s a familiar story. A woman associate is sexually harassed by a partner. The harassment may be subtle or grotesque, occasional or frequent, or hint at a quid pro quo. It may be fueled by martinis at midnight or take place at lunch. It may happen in the office, at a restaurant, or at a firm meeting. Between 5 and 10 percent of the 5,500 women lawyers and law students I’ve met since 1977 report they have been harassed. I believe that number understates the scope of the problem. Firms must enforce a zero-tolerance, no-exception rule against sexual harassment. The…
Breaking the Chain to Build New Links: Informational Interviews
By Katherine Larkin-Wong • February 22, 2010 •Writers in Residence
Note: If you are anything like me, you have never approached networking or self promotion in a systematic way. In fact, you may be terrified of it. Yet, our ability to network and self promote is essential for building a client base, building our own name, and building our careers. Each month I’m going to tackle one strategy for networking or self promotion in an effort to help all of us break the chains we’ve put around ourselves and begin building new links. If you have a topic you’d like covered, e-mail me at chainstolinks@gmail.com. We’re now in the throes…
Savvy Shopper-At-Law: Building Your Clerkship Wardrobe 101
By Ashley Rutherford • February 21, 2010 •Writers in Residence
So, you are a 1L and you obtained your first clerkship. It is prestigious, but it pays very little. Currently, all of your clothing consists of quirky college t-shirts and worn jeans. So how do you begin creating a work wardrobe on a budget?Savvy Shopper-At-Law is here to help! With a few core pieces, you can create two weeks worth of working wardrobe choices. Additionally, by choosing these purchases wisely, you can save hundreds of dollars and precious time in the mornings. The following pieces can be combined to create at least two weeks worth of work clothing:One skirt suitOne…
Deal Makers and Breakers: Female Powerhouses and The Corporate Arena
By Michelle Hugard • February 20, 2010 •Writers in Residence
A few weeks ago, I was chatting with a couple of my female law school friends. These two women are highly successful students, at the top of their class, and incredibly smart, funny, and talented. In preparation for this column, I had wanted to test my suspicions on what female law students think about corporate law and the attorneys who practice it. These two women were the perfect subjects. Between discussing up-in-coming law school events and legal accounting classes, I posed this question: “What comes to mind when you think of a thriving, high-powered business lawyer?” And, without hesitation, my…
Esquisite Paths: Sheila Boston
By Paula Edgar • February 20, 2010 •Writers in Residence
I wanted to write this column to tap into the sisterhood we all share and the special sorority we all join when we get a JD. I hope that the women I introduce to you in this column will serve as legal role models and virtual mentors – and I think that my first subject is a fantastic start! You’ll have to excuse me - during interviews I teeter between the roles of interested colleague, young attorney, adoring fan and nosey neighbor. When deciding who I would interview first for this column, I knew I wanted to speak with Sheila…
Running from the Law
By Vado Porro • February 17, 2010 •Writers in Residence
If you have any desire to run a marathon, complete a triathlon, take sword-swallowing or firewalking lessons, or participate in any other activity you find challenging or completely terrifying but think would be kind of cool, the best time to do it is when you are in your first year of law school. This is because, during your first year, there is no activity that is worse than law school. My first year of law school, running was usually the best part of my day. It was my only chance for fresh air, personal space, and time to think about…
Naming It, Claiming It: Pursuing a Legal Life on California’s Central Coast
By Janet Wallace • February 15, 2010 •Writers in Residence
Note: On January 1, my husband and I made a resolution for the New Year: we would move to California's Central Coast before the end of 2010. This series will chronicle the career component of our journey as I attempt to make connections, build a network, and, hopefully (fingers crossed!), find a legal job in the next twelve months. This column was born at Brent's Delicatessen in Northridge, California. Ms. JD's Executive Director and I had met for lunch and, over two heaping plates of cheese blintzes and potato pancakes, she convinced me that I should document my adventure.…
Swimming in Small Ponds: A Glimpse of Small Town Practice
By Andrea Welker • February 15, 2010 •Writers in Residence
As usual, I pull up to the courthouse five minutes before nine. I'm always pushing the limits of punctuality. In a packed courtroom, no one notices latecomers. But out here, everybody notices. I hurriedly park my car. Too hurriedly, in fact, as it takes four tries to get into the space and people have begun to stare. My parallel parking inability is embarassing, I know. I'm accustomed to parking garages and long walks down city streets, not pulling up out front and walking into the building. Somehow I finally manage to park the car. Two minutes, I note. I dart…
Small Firm Life: Office Humor
By Michelle Valerio • February 11, 2010 •Writers in Residence
When I first started at my firm as a Summer Associate I was advised by one of the Senior Attorneys that the Managing Partner was concerned about hiring me because I was “too quiet”. I confronted him about this comment and he told me that did not feel that he could joke around with me. Being from the Northeast, I know am more reserved than many of my Miami counterparts, however, I was shocked when I realized that what I considered to be my professional demeanor was affecting my career. In contrast, some of the Associates in my office have…