Apply to Join the Ms. JD Board of Directors
By Ms. JD Editor • November 16, 2020 •Ms. JD
Ms. JD is seeking diverse individuals in the legal community with an interest in leadership who are passionate about improving the experiences of women law students and lawyers to join our Board of Directors. Ms. JD is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to ensuring the success of aspiring and early career women lawyers. Ms. JD is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of law students and attorneys, who are supported by our Chief Executive Officer, a small group of independent contractors, and our vast network of volunteers. Ms. JD is a 501(c)(3), incorporated in California. Participation as a…
Intellectual Property in 2021 and Beyond
By Desiree Goff • December 31, 2020 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence
As the last article for the 2020 Writers in Residence column “Becoming a Zebra”, I want to thank the many influential attorneys who continue to lead, working diligently and persistently with passion for endeavors to improve the world around them. While this series was very limited in describing areas of legal practice and awe inspiring women in the legal profession, what I hope you the reader take away is a fervor for excellence in the legal career you dedicate yourself to and a remembrance to contribute to the community in which you find yourself. As we look ahead to the…
Everything is Reproductive Justice
By Leigh Creighton Bond • December 30, 2020 •Writers in Residence
As an attorney, a Black woman, and a creative, I have decided to end 2020 and my time as a 2020 Writer in Residence with one of my personal stories from 2020. I had a hysterectomy this summer. I am not quite ready to share every detail of my hysterectomy story; yet, I am not sure I will ever be ready. My first thoughts when I approached my own story turned into a question, “how do you share a story when you hold shame?” The answer may be to contend with that shame and attack its roots. The roots…
Techlegality: Reflection
By Victoria Willingham • December 30, 2020 •Writers in Residence
In true end-of-the-year fashion, I find myself in a time of reflection. Some of my thoughts have centered around my journey as a 2020 Writer in Residence. I remember when I first discovered the Ms. JD platform as a nervous law student. Constantly in search of inspiration, I often found guidance in reading various articles from the blog. As a result, I was elated when the opportunity arose for me to serve as a columnist. Never in a million years could I have anticipated that this experience would coincide with one of the most notable years in modern history. As…
Everything Nobody Ever Told Me: People Skills Make All the Difference
By Paula M Jones • December 30, 2020 •Writers in Residence, Careers, Other Career Issues, Issues, Other Issues
Yesterday my colleague called me up for a vent session. She had prepared a really complicated tax filing for a client and the client responded by sending a list of about fifteen things she thought was wrong with it. Well, the clients concerns were all unfounded and my colleague patiently and politely addressed each and every complaint. The client apologized for her snippy e-mail and stated that taxes made her anxious. It was really nice to get an acknowledgement from the client that her behavior was unacceptable. Everyone gets snippy once in a while and its entirely forgivable. Unfortunately, this…
IT’S A WRAP FOLKS…SPACE LAW BLOG REVIEW 2020
By Alexandra Dolce • December 28, 2020 •Writers in Residence
Space law governs space related activities. Space law is considered international law because like general international law it is comprised of treaties, conventions, general assembly resolutions as well as the rules and regulations of international organizations. National legislation is relevant vis a vis space law because of the increase of private actors in the exploration and travel to space. It is estimated that private actors will spend close to 1 trillion dollars, this year alone, in conducting space related activities. These private actors need to be regulated. The treaties mentioned above cover only state activities in space, not the actions…-100x100.jpg)
Practice Pointers – Charting Your Own Path
By Natasha Alladina • December 31, 2020 •Writers in Residence, Careers
My first post of 2020 was about avoiding a haphazard career. Kind of a strange blog post title and topic for someone who’s changed jobs and even careers a few times over… But to come full circle, there’s a difference between haphazard and intentional career moves. What may seem haphazard to others is far from that if your career decisions all align with what YOU want and need. The more you experiment and iterate, the better you get to know yourself, and the more intentionally you can chart your own career path. Take me, for instance. I started out in…
Sentencing and Life After
By Diane Wells • December 28, 2020 •Writers in Residence
Since this is my last Ms. JD post, I want to share with you the way that my 6.5-year federal criminal case concluded. I had been convicted of a crime I didn't commit. I heard the prosecutor call my case "contentious". I knew I was completely biased, but how odd for a prosecutor that needs to prove my guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to refer to my case as contentious. It doesn't compute which was like most of the case. Now, I was sitting in the Courtroom waiting to be sentenced. My co-defendant was with me. Our families filled the…
Am I wearing too many hats? Learning how to juggle it all: Find reasons to be happy!
By Crystal Elaine Ellison • December 18, 2020 •Writers in Residence
Life might feel like it’s in shambles right now. At least it did for me, I’ve noticed, there were situations that made me unhappy. Bumps were appearing on my face due to whatever reason, my father’s health seemed to be declining, COVID-19 numbers raced to an all-time high, I hadn’t figured out what God had called me to do, I have to “re-learn” my best friend after she survived from being declared brain dead, my clients were setting unrealistic expectations. Did I mention my daughter got caught watching her favorite YouTubers all hours of the morning, on school nights? I…