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Lawyer Interrupted: Settlement Negotiations
By Amy Impellizzeri • April 27, 2018 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence
That was yesterday. Today is a new day. I was in the middle of a lengthy telephonic settlement negotiation with my adversary, and he didn’t seem to understand why his position has weakened. New discovery had been produced. Inconsistent fact deposition testimony had been elicited. An expert witness who couldn’t possibly survive a Daubert motion was still on the pre-trial report. I was trying to explain all of this when he asked why old (expired) settlement offers were no longer on the table. When all my reasoned legal analysis seemed lost on him, I succumbed to the “that was then,…
From Paralegal to Associate: How to Survive your First Year on the Job – Part II
By Nadia Ennaji • April 27, 2018 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Careers, Law School, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life
Welcome back! As we discussed in Part I the importance of the first impression, the need to be proactive, to keep learning, and ask for advice. This month, I will discuss the importance of networking. Indeed, it is primordial, to start making important contacts within and outside of the company / law firm where you work. Networking will not only enable you to find new jobs in the future but also to bring you potential clients. Lastly, the more you participate in networking events, the more you will be known by the attorneys in your city, which will bring referrals. …
Though the Gap Persists, So Do We - On the Field: Women in Sports Law
By Tatum Wheeler • April 27, 2018 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues, Issues, Sexism, Sexual Harassment, and Other Forms of Discrimination, Women and Law in the Media
As many of you know, Equal Pay Day was earlier this month and with it, a reminder that pay between men and women, and within different groups of women, is still far from equal. While the pay gap is felt across professions, it is particularly detrimental to female athletes. Female professional athletes often make a fraction of their male counterparts' salaries. The US is not alone in this problem, as it permeates professional sports organizations around the world. It is worth noting, however, that unlike other professions, professional sports present some unique challenges. Olympic athletes often rely on their…
Ms. JD’s Report Card: 2018 Annual Conference “Her Story”
By Kerriann Stout • April 25, 2018 •Ms. JD, Conference, Law School, Other Law School Issues, Issues, Other Issues
On March 8th and 9th of 2018, Ms. JD hosted its annual conference at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law. The theme of the conference was “Her Story,” and many of the talks and panels focused on the different journeys of the speakers. This was my first time attending a Ms. JD conference, and I was not sure what to expect, as I was attending by myself. I must say I was pleasantly surprised! It was a very welcoming environment, the Ms. JD staff was extremely kind, and there were lots of opportunities to meet and interact…
You’ll Pay for This: Choosing The Right Repayment Plan
By Kerriann Stout • April 18, 2018 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues, Law School, Pre-Law, Other Law School Issues, Issues, •Other Issues
After going to law school, I like to think that I have a pretty high threshold for the “I have no idea what I’m doing” feeling and can ultimately figure most things out with enough research. However, when it was time to figure out which repayment plan I should use to start paying back my law school loans, I was in tears of confusion in 5 minutes flat. I was immediately paralyzed by questions, such as “Why are there so many options?”, “Why do they all sound the same?”, “How do the payments range from $0 to $3,000?”, “How do…
To be a Woman and to be “Workplace Ready”
By Ava Lee • April 18, 2018 •Ms. JD, Conference, Ms. JD Book Reviews, Ms. JD Weekly Roundup, Writers in Residence, 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, Sexism, Sexual Harassment, and Other Forms of Discrimination, Women and Law in the Media, •Features, Guest Bloggers and Profiles of Women in the Law, Myths & Truths, First Women, Superwomen JDs and What You Can Learn From Them
For a man, the common mantra is “seize the day.” For a woman, the common mantra is “act accordingly.” Women are conditioned to believe their self-worth is based on following rules or being "good." The ideal woman projects grace, cooperation, and compliance. She tailors herself to be pleasant and acceptable. She accommodates and sidesteps her wants for the greater good. Unfortunately, this outlook can leave one professionally stagnant. Being assertive, firm, and steadfast are required to achieve personal and professional objectives. But these traits are often downplayed for fear of being rejected or worse, unlikeable. I remember my first day…
Ms. JD seeking new Volunteer Treasurer!
By Danielle Allison • April 11, 2018 •Ms. JD
Ms. JD's Treasurer function is a part-time, volunteer, and unpaid role within the organization. Ms. JD’s Treasurer will provide assistance, as necessary, on a variety of tasks, including providing guidance relating to the preparation of tax filings, performing administrative, finance, and human resources functions, and helping to build relationships with our sponsors. Ms. JD is a national nonprofit organization with a comparable budget to other nonprofit legal organizations with similar missions of advancing women in the legal profession. Please visit www.ms-jd.org for more information on our projects and programs. Volunteer Treasurer, Ms. JD The Treasurer is a part-time, volunteer, and unpaid position. …
Ms. JD seeking new Programs Assistant!
By Danielle Allison • April 11, 2018 •Ms. JD
Ms. JD needs your help! Ms. JD is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the success of aspiring and early career women lawyers. Serving as a unique nexus between the profession and the pipeline of diverse attorneys, Ms. JD’s online community provides a forum for dialogue and networking among women lawyers and law students. Ms. JD celebrates women’s achievements, addresses remaining challenges, and facilitates continued progress by bringing legal practitioners and law students together to share in an ongoing conversation about gender issues in law school and the profession. We are looking for a Programs Assistant to join us as…
Re-Defining Success (Or Maybe DEFINING it ... for the very first time)
By Amy Impellizzeri • March 28, 2018 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Careers, Law School, Pre-Law, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Women and Law in the Media
From the beginning of time (or at least the first day of college!) I had exactly one professional goal in life – to be a lawyer. And not just any lawyer – a successful one. I wasn’t sure exactly what success would look like, but I knew this – I’d know it when I saw it. By 2009, I had been a corporate litigator for more than 13 years – nearly a decade of which had been spent at Skadden Arps. I had negotiated multi-million dollar settlements, and tried my first case before I was 30. I had won over…