Browse Topics
Waiting for the Smoke to Clear
By Stephanie Carr • April 29, 2019 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector
Waiting for the Smoke to Clear Reconciling Workplace Drug Policies and Cannabis Laws While Uncertainty Rages My first post addressed the differences and respective legal status of marijuana and hemp to serve as a primer for the material covered in this blog. In this second post I will begin an in-depth look into a clear area of opportunity: cannabis-related employment law. Employers need legal guidance to reconcile their workplace drug policies and procedures in the face of shifting state and federal laws regarding marijuana and hemp. Unfortunately, this task is easier said than done given the divergence of legal precedent.…
Interview with Genie Doi, Esports Immigration Lawyer - On the Field: Women in Sports Law
By Tatum Wheeler • April 26, 2019 •Ms. JD, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Issues, Sexism, Sexual Harassment, and Other Forms of Discrimination, Women and Law in the Media
I am pleased to introduce Ms. Genie Doi, founder and attorney-in-chief of immigrate.la and of counsel to ESG Law. Genie worked at top immigration firms in the Los Angeles Area after graduating from Loyola Law School with a concentration in Immigrant Advocacy in 2014. Prior to starting immigrate.la to handle immigration services for the Silicon Beach community in 2017, Genie served as General Counsel and Vice President of Operations for a mobile app development company. Genie became of counsel to ESG Law in 2018, joining Ms. Krista Hiner in the first US law firm devoted to esports. Thank you so much for your time today!…
Learning the Securities Industry: Lessons from a Panel of Experts
By Vanessa Stephens • April 24, 2019 •Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Politics and Government, Features, First Women
This time last year, I developed a newfound love of securities law while I was studying for my Corporations final. Locked in a study room with my study partner, outlining the elements of classical insider trading and the misappropriation theory, I discovered an area of law that was new and very interesting to me. The following semester, I enrolled in a mix of business and securities law classes to learn more about the intersections between the two areas. I even enrolled in accounting (which I found fascinating). Despite having worked at the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Honors Intern…
Square Up Imposter Syndrome
By Helen Osun • April 19, 2019 •Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Issues, Other Issues
Quick tips for young minority lawyers who question whether they belong or are qualified. How do you “square up”[1] against an intangible phenomenon? My name is Helen Osun, a graduate from the Howard University School of Law. I am currently a junior associate at Crowell & Moring in D.C. and with all of my achievements and past successes, I still struggle with imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is described as a “psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments… despite external evidence of their competence, those experiencing this phenomenon remain convinced that they are frauds, and do not deserve all…
Come to the “SITIE” of Seattle!
By Rachel Sindorf • April 18, 2019 •Careers, Legal Academia, Other Career Issues, Law School, Choosing a Career and Landing a Job, Curriculum and Classroom Dynamics, Other Law School Issues, Issues, •Mentoring and Networking
Innovate Your Summer in the "SITIE" of Seattle! This is an open letter to all my Ms. JD law school colleagues. I would like to invite you to enroll in Seattle University School of Law’s Summer Institute for Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (SITIE), in Seattle, Washington. As one of the student co-founders of the forthcoming Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental & Innovation Law, and a past student of the Immersion Course, I am excited to help spread the word about a new academic collaboration between the law school and attorneys at many of Seattle’s most cutting-edge technology companies, including Microsoft, The Allen Institute for…
Making the Case for Recruiting On-Ramp Lawyers
By Susan Smith Blakely • April 10, 2019 •Careers, Firms and the Private Sector
This blog is courtesy of Rebecca McNeill, a founder of McNeill Baur in Cambridge, MA. She addresses the importance of recruiting on-ramp employees. I enthusiastically support these initiatives and the work of the OnRamp Fellowship where I have served as a consultant. Law firms can access wider talent pools by creating on ramps for attorneys and support staff who have left the work force to care for growing families or for other reasons. While many law firms, including ours, offer part-time employment, sometimes an employee, such as a working parent, leaves the work force for a period of time. Whether working parents lean…
Swimming Lessons for Baby Sharks: Practical Advice for New Lawyers
By Grover E. Cleveland • April 08, 2019 •Careers, Firms and the Private Sector
This is part two of my answer to this question on business development for Associates: Q: I am a mid-level associate. I know I should be doing business development. But it is hard to know what activities will be the most effective. Any suggestions on what I should do? A: Last month, I covered some fundamentals that are essential for developing business such as honing your legal skills and dazzling existing clients. This month, I dive deeper into specifics and ways to make business development a habit. In a recent post on LinkedIn, Heather Townsend, an author and business development…
Ms. JD Summer 2019 Public Interest Scholarship Competition is Now Open!
By Sonya Rahders • April 08, 2019 •Careers, Nonprofits and the Public Interest, Law School, Internships and Clerkships
Ms. JD is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2019 Summer Public Interest Scholarship Competition! The recipients of the 2019 Public Interest Scholarship Competition will each receive a scholarship, up to $5,000 per recipient, to go towards their summer living expenses as they pursue careers in public interest law. Ms. JD is thrilled to continue our support of women pursuing public interest careers and soften the burden faced by folks who accept public interest internships, which are often unpaid. Eligibility The Scholarship is open to all law students who currently identify as women, or who have previously…
Salary Negotiation Tips for All Young Lawyers
By Susan Smith Blakely • April 04, 2019 •Careers, Firms and the Private Sector
Last week I attended the Georgetown University Women's Forum, an expanded version of the Georgetown Women's Law Forum. As a Georgetown Law grad, I am a big fan of this conference. Keep your eye out for it next year! You don't have to be a Hoya to attend. Here are some tips that I picked up on salary/benefits negotiations, and they apply to all young lawyers. Think of it as your Ten Step Method to Greater Job Satisfaction. 1. Set the stage. In preparation for a meeting to discuss more salary or benefits, ask your supervisor for time to discuss your career development. Thank…