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Hate, Fear, Sadness, and Hope
By Jacqueline Leung • June 12, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Other Issues
I sincerely apologize in the delay in this month’s post. My heart has been heavy for the past few weeks. As many of you may have heard, there was a major hate crime in my community. It has been surreal -- while I am aware of the anger, pain, and hate from White Supremacists who live and exist in my state (and city) and having experienced some myself -- it still hurts my heart and mind when another act of hate is committed against my community. It is not the first act, nor it is one I am unfamiliar with.…
Round 2 - Navigating Law School with Baby #2 on the Way
By Brenda L. George • June 06, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Law School, Other Law School Issues, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life
My husband and I just announced that our second baby boy is due in a December of 2017. What better way to immerse myself in the topic of this blog, right?! I'm kidding, obviously, but it will be beneficial because I will be blogging through December about the topic of being a parent in law school. First things first, we planned this, just as we planned our first (although our first was planned to arrive during summer break, which is significantly longer than winter break). So, what does December look like for a law student? Seattle University School of Law…
Ms. Pre-JD: The Gap
By Nikki Datta • June 05, 2017 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Law School, Pre-Law, Other Law School Issues, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life
I had planned to write an extensive article on how to network this month (find another amazing article about networking this summer here), but in line with last month’s post, I’m offering a step back from the constant career talk. Instead of thinking about my career trajectory, I want to extend the definition of pre-law to include the years after undergrad and before law school. Now that I’m headed into my junior year, I have only two types of pre-law friends: the ones ordering copious numbers of LSAT books and the ones still smiling because they plan to take a…-100x100.jpg)
Join the Conversation: How to Increase Retention of Women
By Tammy Zhu • June 05, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life
We know that women are underrepresented in senior ranks of law firms and across corporate America. In Big Law, women make up 45% of incoming associates but only 16% of equity partners. At our current rate, women will not make up 30% of equity partners until 2081. We also know that women often take themselves out of the running for advancement. In law firms, women quit at higher rates than men. In tech, women are more than twice as likely to quit than men. Firms and companies recognize the challenge of retaining talented women and have been investing in different strategies to increase retention rates. If…
Self-Care for Women of Color At Work
By Alnisa Bell • June 05, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” -- Audre Lorde The unfortunate reality for many women working outside of the home is that dynamics within the home still require that many women shoulder the burden of household chores and caregiving responsibilities, including, caring for children and elderly relatives and contributing/managing household finances. Most women are essentially working at least two jobs -- one that is paid and another one unpaid within the home (and the latter usually doesn’t come with pay increases, bonuses, days off or promotions; hopefully it does come…
So You Want to Be An International Lawyer: Fathers Can Be Lawyers too
By ilise feitshans • June 05, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Mentoring and Networking, Features, Superwomen JDs and What You Can Learn From Them
My birthday is May 31, which this year is shavouot, a small holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah to humanity on Mount Sinai. The holiday also is a time of great food, like cheesecake and ice cream and lots of singing and dancing... All perfect for a naturally occurring birthday party. In other years my birthday of May 31 has coincided with magnificent life events such as my law school graduation. And in other years, Memorial Day with big parades and barbecues in the USA and the opening of the outdoor swimming pool. My birthday is also a…
Monthly Mantra: Finding Health and Wellness in the Law
By Dierdra Howard • June 02, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Other Issues
I will intentionally and mindfully sow seeds today that will benefit my life tomorrow. June is planting season. A time when we sow seeds with the expectation of harvesting in the future. A successful gardener envisions the fruits of their labor, but also understands the diligence that is required between sowing and reaping. Many of us can articulate our future goals and desires, but fall short when staying the course between vision and achievement. Seeds take time to grow and require work and patience on a daily basis well before they produce fruit. Goal setting is just the beginning. Taking…
The Road Less Traveled: When You’re Forced Off Your Narrative Arc, and What To Do
By Alexis Lamb • June 01, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Women and Law in the Media, Other Issues, Features, •Myths & Truths
In my day job as Associate Director of Talent at Bliss Lawyers, many of the attorneys that I speak with describe how an alt-path gives them the flexibility to optimize their lives. BigLaw hours no longer constrain them from nurturing a side hustle into profitability, pursuit of a sub-three hour marathon, writing and publishing that novel that's been swirling around in their heads, traveling abroad, or assuming a role as family caregiver. But many of the people I speak with - including myself - were forced off the traditional path. Like Westworld hosts, we come into this world with a narrative arc, except one…
Social Media Advantages for Growing JDs and Attorneys
By Diarra McCullen • May 31, 2017 •Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Other Career Issues, Law School, Choosing a Career and Landing a Job, Other Law School Issues, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, •Mentoring and Networking, Women and Law in the Media, Other Issues, Features, Myths & Truths, First Women, Superwomen JDs and What You Can Learn From Them
Diarra Joi Clemons McCullen, J.D. SAG-AFTRA received her Juris Doctor of Law (J.D.) degree from New York Law School, Undergraduate Degree (B.A.) from George Mason University and High School Diploma from an all-girls Catholic high school named St. Scholastica Academy in Evanston, IL. She has worked in Finance for Citibank, Morgan Stanley and Oppenheimer & Co. to name a few. She was also a Judicial Law Clerk while in law school. She is currently a Legal Journalist for Ms. JD, Novelist of the novel memoir series, "Roses are Blue" and Vantage marketing and advervitising blogger. She is a military wife,…