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Chicken or the Egg: The issue of retention starts with perspective.
By Kim Tran • April 30, 2019 •Writers in Residence, Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Other Issues
Why can't we retain our female and minority lawyers? Last month I told you I would share my story first. The story of why I choose to stay, when a disproportionate number of lawyers like me choose to leave the traditional practice of law. I am a female minority lawyer practicing in BigLaw. I have been in practice for 12 years. I started in a smaller firm and made my way steadily through bigger more established firms. In my city, there are few lawyers like me practicing in the larger law firms. There are plenty, however, that opened up their…
The Mental Load: I Couldn’t Care Less About My Job
By Amy Bowen • April 29, 2019 •Writers in Residence, Issues, Other Issues
Caring drives success in any endeavor. And caring, by its nature, requires emotional investment. While some career guidance cautions that “emotional investment is normally a stigma you want to avoid in the workplace”, an authentic caring-based approach to your substantive work, your relationships with colleagues, and your personal goals can not only steer you clear of the emotional turmoil caused by acting in discord with your true instincts, but also pay off in spades. Caring helps a lawyer empathize with clients to provide meaningful insight and guidance. Caring leads to identifying and inventing deeper and more creative arguments and solutions.…
Health(s)Care: Provider Consolidation
By DeJeune O'Garro • April 28, 2019 •Writers in Residence, Issues, Other Issues
In Short In recent years, the U.S. has seen an increase in hospital mergers and acquisitions and in hospitals acquiring physician groups. This wave of provider consolidation led to measurable operational efficiencies but has possibly exacerbated the preexisting lack of access to care and removed incentives on providers to decrease the cost of care. Through it all, patients are caught in the cross-fire without much say in the matter. Fortunately, a few non-traditional health care entities are bringing care closer to the patient, and giving more traditional health care providers a run for their money. In Full The number of hospital…
Square Up Imposter Syndrome
By Helen Osun • April 19, 2019 •Careers, Firms and the Private Sector, Issues, Other Issues
Quick tips for young minority lawyers who question whether they belong or are qualified. How do you “square up”[1] against an intangible phenomenon? My name is Helen Osun, a graduate from the Howard University School of Law. I am currently a junior associate at Crowell & Moring in D.C. and with all of my achievements and past successes, I still struggle with imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is described as a “psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments… despite external evidence of their competence, those experiencing this phenomenon remain convinced that they are frauds, and do not deserve all…
Health(s)care: An Introduction
By DeJeune O'Garro • March 29, 2019 •Writers in Residence, Issues, Other Issues
Hi, my name is DéJeune, and I’m a health care enthusiast. Ironically, I don’t like hospitals. I never have, and I probably never will. As a pastor, my father frequented hospitals, visiting members of his congregations, sharing communion, and praying for their families and wellbeing, but it wasn’t until my mother suffered a fatal heart attack that I really started avoiding hospitals. Whenever possible, I stayed with an older sibling or asked my dad to schedule his “sick and shut in” visits during after school events. I was woefully unsuccessful because, my newly widowed father brought me almost everywhere he…
Interview with Ms. JD Fellowship Mentor, Alan Bryan
By Hailey Hughes • March 12, 2019 •Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life, Mentoring and Networking, Other Issues
Alan Bryan is Senior Associate General Counsel for Walmart Inc., an adjunct professor at the University of Arkansas School of Law, and a certified professional coach. Mr. Bryan is a leader in his company, community, and countless professional organizations, including Ms. JD. In 2017, Mr. Bryan received Ms. JD’s “The Incredible Men” (TIM) Award as a champion for women’s advancement in the legal profession and he has been an active mentor for Ms. JD Fellows for several years. I have had the pleasure to get to know him and to grow professionally and personally from his mentorship, and wanted to share with…
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…