Browse Topics
Trading in the Expense Account: Transitioning from Big Law to Public Interest: The Agony and the Ecstasy
By Valarie Hogan • May 02, 2013 •Careers
I am currently completing a year-long fellowship at a nonprofit. My term comes to an end at the end of the summer, and I already find myself looking back on the last eight months and feeling grateful, but also a little excited about the fellowship ending. I am grateful for many reasons that I probably cannot even accurately describe: this job has opened up my mind and heart to a lot of issues that I had never seriously considered before. Professionally, I have worked with some amazing people and have acquired skills that I would never have learned at a…
Creating success at the Hit the Ground Running Bootcamp
By Liz Vaysman • April 09, 2013 •Careers
This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to participate in the Hit the Ground Running Bootcamp at Vinson & Elkins in DC. It was truly an unbelievable experience. I was given individual feedback from experienced attorneys on my communication, networking, and self-promotion skills while interacting with local leaders in the legal profession. We learned everything from how to approach a cocktail reception to how to manage your LinkedIn page to the best way to get your point across to a boss. After hearing each influential speaker, we broke up into small groups and practiced these much needed skills with seasoned…
Walk a Mile in My Heels, by Anonymous Woman Attorney
By Anonymous • April 09, 2013 •Careers, Issues, Sexism, Sexual Harassment, and Other Forms of Discrimination
Today is Equal Pay Day. That is the date the salaries of women catch up with the salaries their male counterparts earned in 2012. There is much public discussion about why it is that women do not succeed at the same levels as men and about the dissatisfaction many young women have with their careers. The reasons for these situations might just stem from the fundamentally different experience that women and men have on the job. With respect to the legal profession, it is difficult for many male attorneys to understand the work environment of most female attorneys. Imagine, though,…
Personal Branding Corner: WHY Do You Practice Law?
By Katy Goshtasbi • April 08, 2013 •Careers
Have you ever wondered if people really care what you do for a living? I go to so many events where people stand up to introduce themselves and lead with what they do- "I'm a lawyer, I'm a dentist, I'm a CPA, I'm an engineer". Blah blah blah.Do you really think that you will captivate us, inspire us and have us remember you this way? In a world where it seems every other person is a coach, lawyer, doctor, accountant or engineer, who really cares that you are one, too?So a few days ago I posted a video from a…
Trading in the Expense Account: Transitioning from Big Law to Public Interest: Spring Cleaning Edition
By Valarie Hogan • April 02, 2013 •Careers
I have a confession: I have yet to spend less than I make since I started at a non-profit seven months ago. I’ve had some help along the way (gotta get those tax returns in early!), and I have found ways to scrimp and save, but I am always, chronically, over budget. Given the state of the budget debate in Congress, I doubt they could even figure out a way to balance mine at this point. Well, perhaps that’s an exaggeration. Here’s the thing – as I’m sure you all know – you have your fixed expenses and your variable…
Blog and Tweet for Equal Pay!
By Ms. JD Editor • April 01, 2013 •Careers
Tomorrow is Equal Pay Day! Do You Care About Equal Pay? We thought so! That is why we are sharing three great ways for you to participate this Equal Pay Day. 1. Join The ABA Gender Equity Task Force and Young Lawyer Social Media Working Group’s Equal Pay Day Twitter Chat! #EPLawFeaturing:Laurel G. Bellows – President, American Bar Association (@laurelbellows)Marcia D. Greenberger – Co-President, National Women’s Law Center (@nwlc)Yolanda Young – Founder, On Being a Black Lawyer (@OBABL) and more!Moderated by Ms. JD (@msjdtweets)Tuesday, April 9, 2013, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CTPlease contact hanna.jackson@brooklaw.edu with questions 2. On April 9…
Register Now for the Hit the Ground Running Bootcamp!
By Ms. JD Editor • March 28, 2013 •Careers
D.C.-based Ms. JD readers! Are you a law student gearing up to start your career? Are you a young attorney, still navigating the ins-and-outs of the legal industry? If so, do not miss this exciting opportunity to learn the skills that will enable you to succeed in today's competitive legal market while networking with law firm partners, senior government officials, in-house counsel, and hiring directors. Ms. JD, in partnership with the Women's Bar Association of D.C., would like to invite you to attend the Hit the Ground Running Bootcamp, to be held on Saturday, April 6th at Vinson & Elkins LLP in…
Personal Branding Corner: Are you a closet professional? Get out your horn and toot it!
By Katy Goshtasbi • March 25, 2013 •Careers
Inherent to the personal branding process is the ability to be able to know your uniqueness, own it and let others know it. Of course, if this was easy to do everyone would be an expert at personal brand management, have more business and be happier in general.Yet, as I always say, we find that people have a hard time being outstanding and shining brightly AND letting others know it. Inherently, the problem is low self-confidence. Therefore, we become "closet professionals" as I like to call it. We go around hoping someone will somehow notice how great we are, like…
An Invitation to the Catapult 2013 Conference!
By Alison Monahan • March 18, 2013 •Careers
We'd like to extend a special invitation to the Ms. JD community! You're invited to attend Catapult 2013: Tools for a 21st Century Legal Career, an innovative new conference happening on April 13th in San Francisco at the Bar Association.And, because you're awesome, we've set up a special Ms. JD discount code:"MS-JD" for 10% off student/non-attorney tickets"MS-JD-CLE" for 10% off attorney tickets What is Catapult?Catapult is your chance to develop the skills you'll need to launch your legal career, and take it to the next level. It covers all the stuff you're probably not getting from your law school: marketing,…