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Practice Pointers – Finding Your Tribe
By Natasha Alladina • March 29, 2020 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Issues, Mentoring and Networking
March 2020 has been… rough. Uncertainty abounds, and Tiger King reigns supreme. Zoom is no longer just something my dog does when she’s got way too much energy. Life’s surreal right now. Very surreal. I’ve been doing my best to get through each day without a mental breakdown, and some days have been especially tough with incessant fears and tears. But this isn’t a post about my anxiety. It’s about what’s been helping me navigate this upside-down world we’re living in: the people in my life. In the past, I’ve rolled my eyes at all the “find your tribe and…
Everything Nobody Ever Told Me: How To Deal with a Perfectionist
By Paula M Jones • March 26, 2020 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues, Law School, Other Law School Issues, Issues, Mentoring and Networking, •Other Issues
“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor.” – Anne Lamott Have you ever encountered the kind of people who expect the impossible from others? They view anything less than perfection as a failure. They hyper-focus on your mistakes and they never seem to notice all the things that you do right. You, my friend, have encountered a perfectionist. While at first blush this term may seem like a compliment, the reality is that it is not. Perfectionists should really be called “imperfectionists” because they don’t look for the perfection in others - they look for their imperfections. There is a…
My Divorce Story and How I Survived
By Katherine Hernandez • February 08, 2020 •Issues, Mentoring and Networking, Sexism, Sexual Harassment, and Other Forms of Discrimination, Women and Law in the Media, Other Issues, Features, Superwomen JDs and What You Can Learn From Them
People from all walks of life have that longing of being attached to someone and be valued for who they are as a person. Man and woman are wired differently yet the desire of being connected intimately are inherent in the deepest core of an individual. Those who are seriously in love will consider marriage to make the union official, permanent and later on form a family that makes up a society. Marriage is a sacred covenant wherein two people publicly declare their union as recognizable by law, customs and religious beliefs. It brings about euphoria but responsibilities are also…
Bringing Blue-Collar Roots to the Legal Profession - An Interview with Jennifer Frankola Crawford
By Molly Timko • December 02, 2019 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues, Law School, Internships and Clerkships, Issues, Mentoring and Networking
For this month's post, I am thrilled to feature my fellow CUNY Law alum, Jennifer Frankola Crawford. Jennifer is an experienced attorney, arbitrator, and human rights advocate with blue-collar/working-class roots. As an arbitrator, Jennifer hears cases and renders decisions based upon New York State’s Insurance Law. In addition, Jennifer maintains an active practice in education law, representing families of children with learning disabilities and developmental delays. Further, Jennifer engages in pro bono work involving human rights issues, including handling immigration/deportation cases, and she collaborates with other lawyers to design and host CLEs. In this interview, Jennifer describes how her family's history, including her parents' immigration to the United States, influenced her career trajectory. She also offers excellent advice to first-generation…
“Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket”
By Leigh Bond • November 23, 2019 •Issues, Mentoring and Networking
The best career advice -- “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” -- does not even have an author. We’ve all heard the phrase, perhaps for different contexts, including dating and investing. Yet, I most appreciate the versatile nature of the idiom when applied to my nontraditional career path and future aspirations. First, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is a sound approach when seeking opportunities. When I talk to a mentee in the middle of their job search, they often share a focus on one category of positions. As a mentor, I believe it is…
How To Network In The Legal And Compliance Field
By Alex Newman • August 16, 2019 •Issues, Mentoring and Networking
Networking has become the primary source of maintaining business connections and seeking business opportunities at national and international level. In the field of legal and compliance, Networking provides a good ROI in the form of name, fame, and business. With the help of Networking, communication among clients and employers has become boundary-less. On this, Houston attorney Joe Stephens mentions, “networking has done its job exclusively.” However, according to the law and order statistics, one in four attorneys do not give any attention to Networking. It allows their circle of potential employers to stay small and limited. It is a loss.…
How to Get Leadership Positions to Build Your Practice
By Claire E. Parsons • June 10, 2019 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Issues, Mentoring and Networking
Ask most experienced attorneys how they built their practice and they’ll tell you they “got involved” in the community or professional organizations. Maybe this advice doesn’t always use the term “leadership” but that’s what it means. If you really want to “get involved” and build your reputation, you need to do some real work rather than just paying a membership fee and adding your name to a list. This may be a little scary for young attorneys, since it is easy to think that you haven’t paid your dues long enough to qualify as a leader. It may be easy to…
Summer Associate Advice Good for a Lifetime: Solicit, Receive, and Materialize Constructive Feedback
By Vanessa Stephens • May 31, 2019 •Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Nonprofits and the Public Interest, Politics and Government, Other Career Issues, Law School, Other Law School Issues, Issues, •Mentoring and Networking
Many leaders succeed in their fields because they request continuous feedback, process it, and adjust their course. As a law students, I attended panel discussions centered on soliciting feedback very frequently, so it seems like a hot-button topic for young associates. The legal field is incredibly challenging; the learning curve is steep and the workplace dynamics are intricate. I want to make continuous and open dialogue about my learning opportunities a regular part of my legal process, so I talked to my mentors about how to request and receive actionable constructive feedback. Here are a few tips that I picked…
Breaking Down the Fear of Networking as a Young Lawyer
By Jacob Maslow • May 15, 2019 •Issues, Mentoring and Networking
Bar association events are often the first time a young lawyer will really network. Conversations are the key to networking, but a lot of lawyers get jittery. You’re meeting new people, some who have far more experience and success than you, and it’s easy to get intimidated. The good news is that anyone can master the art of networking. Whether you’re sitting down for a cup of coffee and start a conversation with someone or you’re going to a networking event, it’s important to think positively and start making new contacts. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone from the Start…