Am I wearing too many hats? Learning how to juggle it all: The VP looks like me!
By Crystal Elaine Ellison • August 30, 2020 •Writers in Residence
Senator of California, Kamala Harris, will be the first Black woman and the first Asian American to appear on a major-party ticket—the Democratic presidential ticket. On August 11, 2020, Presidential candidate, Joe Biden, announced Kamala as his running mate for Vice President. There is much to be said about Kamala, but what I can say, is that I am truly proud to be able to watch a Democratic National Convention that depicts a woman of color as the Vice-Presidential candidate for the 2020 election. What’s disturbing to me is that I see people that look just like Kamala, diminishing and…
Techlegality: Expanding Broadband Access to Close the Homework Gap
By Victoria Willingham • August 31, 2020 •Writers in Residence
With fall quickly approaching, online school is in full swing for students due to the ongoing global health crisis. As a result of the requirement to operate in a virtual setting, having access to adequate internet is more prevalent than ever. Many students, however, do not have the luxury of readily available internet access. Often referred to as the homework gap as a result of the digital divide, groups of students are disproportionately disadvantaged to what may seem like an inevitable, basic necessity to most people. As the need to have internet access at home continues, various levels of government have…
Remembering RBG
By Ms. JD Editor • September 21, 2020 •Ms. JD, Issues, Women and Law in the Media
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, affectionately nicknamed the Notorious RBG, passed away on Friday, September 18, at the age of eighty-seven. The second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, and first Jewish female justice, Justice Ginsburg is remembered fondly for her continued effort to advance rights through her progressive court opinions, and even steamier dissents, as well as her own work as a lawyer and professor in serving as a champion of equality between the sexes. When asked for one word to describe Justice Ginsburg, Ms. JD community members used words like “inspirational,” “iconic,” “trailblazer,” and “visionary.” In celebrating her accomplishments, it is important to…
The Influencers: Nevertheless, She Persisted: The Story of Belva Lockwood
By Carron Nicks • September 09, 2020 •Writers in Residence
In 2020, to be admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court is not a difficult process. If you’ve been in good standing with your state bar association, you can ask two members of the Supreme Court bar to sponsor you. Then, you pay a $200 fee and take the oath. An extra special perq is to attend an oral argument session and have that oath administered by one of the justices, although that is not required. But it was not always thus. If you were a woman in 1880, it would literally take an Act of Congress. …
Suiting Up for Space Law
By Desiree Goff • August 30, 2020 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence
Between the launch of NASA astronauts in test flight for SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft earlier this summer, the addition of Space Force on Netflix, and NASA’s recent announcement of Jeanette Epps to launch aboard Boeing’s new CST-100 Starliner spaceship in 2021, the topic of space law is timely. Considered the body of law governing space-related activities, I reached out to my law school negotiating partner and friend, Elsbeth Magilton, to learn more regarding this area of law. As the current Executive Director for Technology, Security, and Space Law initiatives for the University of Nebraska College of Law, she oversees development,…
Look Mom ! It’s A Drone
By Alexandra Dolce • August 30, 2020 •Writers in Residence
In space and aviation a drone (unmanned aerial vehicle) is spacecraft or aircraft that has no pilot. Drones are primarily used in the military. Drones are advantageous for military use because pilots are not exposed to combat zones and drones don’t become exhausted. They fly as long as they have fuel and are mechanically sound. Space bound drones, alternatively are used as cargo space crafts and satellites. (www.space.com) The drone market is booming! In 2018 the drone market was valued at approximately 20 billion dollars. Consumers are using drones for a variety of things-photography, recreation, surveillance and even distributing fertilizer for…
Prosecution Witnesses at My Trial
By Diane Wells • August 26, 2020 •Writers in Residence
I am describing the prosecution’s presentation to the Court at my criminal trial. As hard as it is, I am doing my best to not present a one-sided case. The prosecution had about 10 witnesses at trial who were investors in a Fund that I administrated as part of a five-person committee. None of the witnesses were people I had asked them to invest. Some of them I talked with about their paperwork because that was my job. There were three men from the committee testifying against me. There were a travel agent and banker who testified. There was one…
Three of the weirdest job interview results in my legal career
By Katalin Tarjan • August 28, 2020 •Ms. JD, Writers in Residence
Over the course of my career I have been through countless job interviews. Some were pretty regular and normal, but I feel I could fill a whole book with some wild examples too. You know those articles that promise to prepare you for the typical job interview and list the most typical interview questions? I am not saying they aren’t helpful, just that there are so many factors in your job application process that you cannot prepare for. As far as interviews go, I’ve seen so many things over the years, from the interviewer falling asleep while listening to me, through…
Reality Check: Are you Staying True to Yourself?
By Brandy Simpson • August 02, 2020 •Issues, Balancing Private and Professional Life
“Run Your Own Race.” “Just Do You.” “Comparison is the Thief of Joy.” There are multiple quotes and phrases to remind you to stay in your lane so to speak, and focus on what is important to you both professionally and personally. In the practice of law, I frequently have to remind myself to slow down and stay focused on things that are important to me. We are all different. Our goals are different. The things that bring each of us joy……guess what, they are different. Some people get a real charge out of billing over 200 hours a month…