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Sports Law Resources - On the Field: Women in Sports Law
By Tatum Wheeler • October 28, 2018 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Law School, Issues, Women and Law in the Media
My Fellow Sports Law Enthusiasts: In doing research for this column and talking to sports lawyers, fellow students, and my career counselor, I've come across some helpful resources for those interested in SportsLaw. Here, I've compiled those resources, as well as a brief summary of what they provide. Industry Insights Leveling the Playing Field podcast hosted by Bobbi-Sue Doyle-Hazard provides in-depth interviews with women in the sports law industry, including upper-level management, CEOs, and journalists. The Players' Tribune: Online media platform with articles and videos that focuses on athlete-created content. Uniquely presents issues from the athletes' perspective. The White Bronco: Written by a team…
Thank You For Attending LaddHer Up
By Janee • October 22, 2018 •Ms. JD, Conference, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Mentoring and Networking
Thank You for Attending LaddHer Up With Ms. J.D. On October 18-19, 2018, Ms. JD brought over 30 women general counsel and 50 early career associates together at the Silverado Resort & Spa in Napa, California for its inaugural LaddHer Up retreat! LaddHer Up’s unique program provided great general counsel networking opportunities, interesting expert workshops, small group recreational activities and 2:1 career meet-ups where each general counsel informally provided career advice to associates. Avery Blank gave great advice on negotiating your career effectively during her "PowHer Up to Negotiate Your Career" discussion. There are many misconceptions about the…
How to Deal with Microaggressions as a Female Attorney
By Claire Parsons • October 15, 2018 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Issues, Sexism, Sexual Harassment, and Other Forms of Discrimination
“Are you the court reporter?” After 3 years of law school, 2 bar exams, and a little over 1 year of practice, that was the question I received upon arriving at a deposition I was set to defend. It also happens to be the same question many other female attorneys get at depositions. The question in my case was, I believe, an honest mistake. Yet, the frequency with which it and questions like it are asked suggests to me that it is not just a mistake. Indeed, I have also been asked whether I “work for” an attorney, I am…
When School Districts Undermine Title IX - On the Field: Women in Sports Law
By Tatum Wheeler • September 28, 2018 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Issues, Sexism, Sexual Harassment, and Other Forms of Discrimination, Women and Law in the Media, Other Issues
In my hometown’s backyard, some girls were momentarily robbed of their opportunity to pursue sports. With a budget deficit looming overhead, the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) cut ten high school sports programs, affecting roughly 500 students. The sports include bowling, girls’ badminton, girls’ lacrosse, golf, boys’ volleyball, swimming, and wrestling. Such cuts affected nearly twice as many girls as boys. Following the announcement, lawyers such as Elizabeth Kristen, Director of the Legal Aid At Work’s Gender Equity & LGBT Rights Program, have been working on Title IX cases against OUSD. There has also been an outpouring…
How I Got Over My Fear of Asking for Things for Me: I Treated Myself Like My Own Client
By Claire Parsons • September 18, 2018 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Other Career Issues
In my practice, I routinely ask for—nay demand—things on behalf of my clients without a second thought: produce the documents, dismiss the complaint, find in my client’s favor, etc. But, when it was time for me to take a step forward in my own career, I was startled to see how hard it was to ask for things for me. To be honest, it felt downright unnatural. This had always been a problem for me. I remember as a kid getting jealous when my mom came home from the store with a purchase for my sister. With rather sage advice…
Gearing Up for LaddHer Up: Michelle Banks Gives the Inside Scoop on Ms. JD’s Upcoming Retreat
By Diana Stern • September 15, 2018 •Ms. JD, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Issues, Mentoring and Networking
“Women helping women has a positive impact. Powerful women helping women starting out in their law careers will be game-changing." Michelle Banks is one of the inaugural LaddHer Up Host Committee Co-Chairs who brought this empowering, unique retreat to life. As you may have seen around the web, the LaddHer Up retreat for general counsel and early career women associates is a distinctive professional development program hosted by Ms. JD on Thursday, October 18 and Friday, October 19, 2018. Keep reading to find out Michelle’s tips for associates attending LaddHer Up, what’s in it for law firms, the difference between mentoring…
The Barred Life: A Series of Indefinite Length - Part III
By Jannet Matthew • August 27, 2018 •Ms. JD, Careers, Other Career Issues, Law School, Choosing a Career and Landing a Job, Other Law School Issues
Moving Forward While Looking Back **This post is looooong overdue but in my effort to staying committed to improving my writing and self-expression, here it is... I recently met with a legal recruiter to help me navigate the legal job market. I was feeling pretty overwhelmed after unsuccessfully trying for a couple of months. I tell her a bit about myself and what I’m looking for and the conversation proceeds a little something like this… Recruiter: Great! So, what legal software are you familiar with? ...me looking dumbfounded... Me: Do Lexis and Westlaw count? Recruiter: Yeah that’s perfect but… have…
Women in the Legal Field & the #MeToo Conversation
By Jennifer Hemmer • August 14, 2018 •Ms. JD, Careers, Other Career Issues, Issues, Sexism, Sexual Harassment, and Other Forms of Discrimination, Other Issues, Features, Myths & Truths
Regardless of a woman’s age, race, location, career or economic status, most have either experienced sexual harassment first-hand or know of someone who has. With the numerous allegations made in the past year against Harvey Weinstein and dozens of other powerful figures in Hollywood, the media and politics, and the explosion of the #MeToo movement, the prevalence of sexual harassment in American society has never been more exposed than it is right now. There has not been a formal study conducted on sexual harassment specifically in the legal field, until now. Lauren Stiller Rikleen, founder and President of the Rikleen Institute for…
Join Ms. JD’s Global Education Fund Program!
By Danielle Allison • August 12, 2018 •Ms. JD, Careers, Nonprofits and the Public Interest, Law School, Other Law School Issues, Issues, Other Issues
Interested in women’s issues, international development, fundraising and education? If yes, consider supporting us as our next part-time, unpaid, Global Education Fund program volunteer! Ms. JD created the Global Education Fund (“GEF”) to enable women in developing countries who otherwise would not have access to further education pursue a legal education. Each year, GEF has made it possible for two Ugandan women in each class year to pursue their dreams of becoming lawyers by attending the law program at Makerere University in Uganda. The part-time and unpaid Global Education Fund program volunteer will be responsible for: Helping to lead outreach and program development…