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Burning the Midnight Oil
By Brenda L. George • December 16, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Law School, Other Law School Issues, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Other Issues
I stayed up until midnight writing a paper. As I was writing, I was intermittently caring for my two week old son and my two and a half year old son. My oldest had a hard time getting to sleep tonight (of course!) and we were in and out of his room until 10 p.m. My youngest was sleeping - the newborn life! Every time I looked over at him sleeping I thought about the classic advice you get when you have a baby: "sleep when the baby sleeps." Yeah, I would have loved to do that instead...but law school…_(1)-100x100.jpg)
Skirting the Ceiling: Success in Strength
By Sydney Reed • December 05, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues, Issues, Sexism, Sexual Harassment, and Other Forms of Discrimination, Other Issues
Over the past year as a writer-in-residence, I explored gender dynamics and sexism in law. We talked about gender stereotypes and sexual harassment and how they affect workplace dynamics. We learned about women in law who were the first to break gender norms and how the industry's treatment of women evolved over time. Most importantly, we've engaged in conversation. Whether it be in the comments at the bottom of this page, on LinkedIn, or on Facebook, I've learned so much from each of you and am honored that so many took time to read and think about these issues that shape so…
15 Top Legal Defenses to Criminal Charges: Tips for New Lawyers
By Tsion Chudnovsky • November 11, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Law School, Curriculum and Classroom Dynamics, Other Law School Issues, Issues, Mentoring and Networking, Other Issues, Features, •Superwomen JDs and What You Can Learn From Them
There are many ways to fight criminal charges and win. Here are some of the most successful legal defenses we use at Chudnovsky Law when defending our clients. The defenses are presented from the perspective of a crime charged under California law, but the same defenses apply in most states. 1) Mistaken Identity Incorrect witness identification is a major source for incorrect accusations. This can happen if a person’s description is similar to a criminal perpetrator or if a witness assumes someone committed a crime due to circumstances or they are trying to cover for a crime they committed. 2) Accident Most California…
Ms. Pre-JD: Reflections on Becoming a Ms. JD
By Nikki Datta • November 06, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Law School, Pre-Law, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Other Issues
Now that we are so close to the year’s end, I thought it might be time to reflect on what I’ve learned about becoming a woman with a JD this year. Through conversations with attorneys, both candid and hyper-professional, personal experiences, and discussions with other pre-law students, I’ve found that the personal is often the political, and many of the things I’m struggling with now are not unique to my path. Some of the best advice I’ve gotten this year from other women with JDs… Plan for where you want your life to go, both personally and professionally – that…
Twice As Good: Gender And Technical Information In The Courtroom
By Anna Johansson • October 27, 2017 •Issues, Other Issues
When Michelle Obama addressed graduates at the historically Black Tuskegee University in 2015, it was no surprise that she offered a variation of the old “twice as good” speech. Passed down by Black parents for generations, the idea is that as a person of color, you need to be twice as good as your white peers to get half as far. While it may seem overly pessimistic to offer such advice to new graduates, the idea holds – and it applies to more than just Black students. For any woman trying to break into a male-dominated field like law, the…
Bar Prep with a Family
By Brenda L. George • October 10, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Other Issues
Studying with a toddler has been a bit of a challenge. Most people have the opportunity to do homework in the early evenings or on weekends. In fact, I even had that opportunity during my first year, while pregnant. But now, early evenings at our house are dedicated to dinner with the family, bath time, bedtime routine, and extra snuggles. Weekends are usually out as well because it is the only time we have to spend together as a family. That leaves late evenings to do homework. My son usually goes to sleep around 8pm these days. Usually. As he…
Monthly Mantra: Finding Health and Wellness in the Law
By Dierdra Howard • October 05, 2017 •Writers in Residence, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Other Issues
October Mantra: I will reap my harvest gracefully without diminishing my accomplishments or work. October is harvest time. It is a time to reap the benefits of seeds sown long ago. But are you basking in the bounty? We’ve all said it on the heels of a compliment following a major success. “Oh, that was nothing.” But you know what? Yes, it was something and in many instances it was a whole lot of something. Don’t get me wrong, grace and humility are important; however, we need to stop diminishing our accomplishments and learn to shine in our successes. Several…
Relevancy of Linguistics: Power From Categories
By Anonymous • September 29, 2017 •Issues, Sexism, Sexual Harassment, and Other Forms of Discrimination, Other Issues
INTRODUCTION At its core, feminism is equality for women. There are different forms of feminism each uniquely named and categorized by how a person defines equality and the route a person utilizes to achieve equality. These names and categories quickly identify a person’s beliefs as it relates to women’s rights. Ultimately, recognizing common ground and subtle differences enables groups to form and work towards achieving a unified purpose--whether that purpose is short term or long term. This article discusses the power of linguistics, the likelihood that you are a feminist, and why different categories of feminism matter—especially to lady lawyers.…
Breaking the Ice: 8 Conversation Tips for Your Next Networking Event!
By Sarah Orefice • September 09, 2017 •Issues, Other Issues
Networking events can be a pain, especially if you're not comfortable in a room-full of strangers. However, networking remains crucial to attorneys in that they get to access information about jobs and current developments in their field. Networking also helps lawyers meet potential clients and peers. That being said, merely attending a networking event won't make the tide turn in anyone's favor. You have to work to make the event work for you! So if you're an introvert or simply bad at striking up a conversation and holding it, here are some tips to help you break the ice and…