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Why Women Lawyers Should Consider Service on a Public Board or Commission
By Claire E. Parsons • November 09, 2018 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Politics and Government, Issues, Other Issues
This week, a historic number of women were elected to Congress and a record number of women ran in and won other races nationwide. If I had to pick a single word to describe this situation, it would be this: awesome. We need more women and diverse voices in government. But what you may not have heard about in the coverage of the recent elections is that the need to increase the representation of women extends to unelected government positions as well. In particular, women do not make up a fair proportion of the people serving on state and local…
Friend or Foe? Technology in Our Everyday Lives: Habits
By Keisha M. McClellan • October 31, 2018 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Issues, Other Issues
According to the Federal Trade Commission’s 2017 Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book, identity theft was the second biggest category of consumer complaints, comprising close to 14 percent of all consumer complaints received. To this point, are there any habits you have that may be putting your personal information at risk in public? Take a look at some examples below. Charging your phone in public ports While the convenience of a quick mobile phone charge in an airport or conference center lobby may seem benign, hackers can collect your information while your device is connected to a public power strip. It’s…
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 to Raise an Activist in 5 Easy Steps
By Danielle Kocal • September 27, 2018 •Issues, Other Issues
Like many of us, 2016 began a new era of activism in my life. During the election, I was excited to involve my two daughters (ages 3 and 6 at the time) as I taught them all about the first female Presidential candidate for a major political party, and my own personal role model. After the election, again like most of us, I worried about the issues I cared about and what would happen under our new administration. I have always been an “activist,” even from a very young age – I created a club called Save Our World…
10 Ways to Help Immigrant Children Separated from Parents
By Tsion Chudnovsky • August 23, 2018 •Careers, Legal Academia, Nonprofits and the Public Interest, Politics and Government, Law School, Internships and Clerkships, Issues, Women and Law in the Media, •Other Issues
With immigration tragedies playing out across America, many lawyers and students are searching for constructive actions they can take. Here our immigration lawyers review some of the best ways to help refugees and immigrant children separated from their families. While it is unclear exactly how many immigrant children have been separated from their parents, the US government has so far been unable to comply with federal court orders to reunite the children they have separated from their parents. The heart wrenching images and stories have ignited an immigration firestorm and prompted the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, based in Geneva to declare the…
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…
Friend or Foe? Technology in Our Everyday Lives: Smart Homes
By Keisha M. McClellan • July 28, 2018 •Writers in Residence, Issues, Other Issues
Innovations in camera technologies are wildly popular these days for convenience and amusement. For example, wired internet-of-things homes may use baby monitors and security systems with cameras that can be accessed remotely. Even pet cameras are increasingly popular because the products offer a pet’s view of the world while home without you. But despite the novelty and usefulness of connected cameras, these devices can also threaten personal privacy. "As the number of connected gadgets around your home increases, so do your chances of getting hacked.” To this point, everything from home security cameras to webcams can be compromised. “After all, Facebook founder Mark…
From Paralegal to Associate: How to Maintain your Enthusiasm
By Nadia Ennaji • July 02, 2018 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Other Issues
The first few months into the legal profession are a whirlwind of emotions. You are thrilled to have passed the BAR. You are finally an attorney. The pressure of doing a great job are mixed with the enthusiasm you feel for finally doing what took a few years to accomplish. Then the months pass, and slowly be surely, the rush you get in those first few months dissipate. The long hours are getting to you. The mundanity of some of the tasks are getting you bored out of your mind. How does one stay motivated and enthusiast? How do you…