Fifteen Things You Didn’t Know About Ms. JD Board Member Jamie Bence
By Jamie Bence • November 11, 2012 •Other Issues
1. I have a rogue Midwestern accent. I spent a lot of my childhood in Wisconsin, and if I am placed in a room with enough Midwesterners, the accent comes back. 2. I am an avid cook! I love the process of meal planning, shopping for foods and making really great dinners. My favorite foods are spicy and have lots of veggies. I have to really like a recipe in order to make it twice, because the fun for me is in finding new things and experimenting. 3. The Probono Program at CUA Law has enriched my law school experience beyond words. I…
SheLeads: Pulling It All Together
By Jamie Bence • October 10, 2012 •Other Career Issues
I hope everyone had as much fun at SheLeads as I did. I was so lucky to have so many important people in my life all in the same room. Right before I started law school, I found Ms. JD through a really lucky Google search. I had taken a break after graduating from Wellesley College and had just moved to D.C. to attend Catholic University. The two schools literally could not have been more different, and I was looking that day for a bridge from my old home to my new one. When I saw Ms. JD's site, I…
Five Things 1Ls Can Do Now to Make Orientation Easier
By Jamie Bence • August 05, 2012 •Other Law School Issues
The clock is winding down! It’s almost time for the march of the newbies, er, 1L orientation, at many law schools around the country. Orientation is, for many, a really chaotic time full of new friends and general law school confusion. But, there are a lot of items to check off in that first week, inside and outside of the classroom. Here are a few things you can do before you head to campus to make the first few weeks a bit less hectic: 1. Buy Your Books Now and Don’t Blow off those First Assignments. There is a lot…
Ms. JD Mobile and Tablet Usage Survey
By Jamie Bence • June 26, 2012 •Women and Law in the Media
Happy summer Ms. JD readers! Before you head out for the Fourth of July, we are circulating a survey that we hope our readers will take a moment to fill out - our mobile and tablet usage survey. At Ms. JD, we are always looking to improve our readers’ experience with the site, and we know many of you are visiting from your smart phone or tablet. The survey is very short (we promise!) but will help us design an interface that is friendly on smaller, flatter screens. The survey can be found here. We look forward to reading your…
From the Seat of Power: Heidi Finger
By Jamie Bence • November 29, 2011 •Politics and Government
Heidi Finger began her career at the Department of Labor after graduating from Wellesley College, and returned as an attorney after attending American University's Washington College of Law. She has litigated for the department on many issues including employment discrimination, fair labor standards and equal pay. Heidi retired from the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs in 2005, after serving in numerous capacities for the Department. How did you come to work for the Department of Labor? I think it was all a lot of serendipity. When I first graduated from college, there were many fewer opportunities for women at…
From the Seat of Power: Emily Krause
By Jamie Bence • November 02, 2011 •Politics and Government
Emily Krause graduated from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in 2007. She received her undergraduate degree is from the University of Virginia. (Go Hoos!) While in college she studied abroad in Vietnam, and resulting in a whirlwind semester of learning and exploring. The gutsiest thing she did was buy a bicycle and ride through the streets of Hanoi (anyone who has seen the traffic there, then you knows what she means). How did you come to work for the NRC? What earlier experiences led you to your current position? The NRC hired me right out of…
From the Seat of Power: Nicole Heiser
By Jamie Bence • October 02, 2011 •Politics and Government
Nicole Heiser is an attorney practicing employment law in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of the General Counsel, General Law Division. Nicole graduated from the University of California, San Diego in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She attended the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. She is a member of the bar in California and Maryland. Following graduation, Nicole joined the Department of Justice Honors Program as an Honors Attorney for the Federal Bureau of Prisons practicing employment and labor litigation. Nicole has been in her present position with the Department of Homeland…
From the Seat of Power: Angelia Talbert-Duarte
By Jamie Bence • August 31, 2011 •Politics and Government
Angelia Talbert-Duarte serves as the Deputy Chief of the General Law Division in the United States Department of Commerce. She received her Bachelor of the Arts degree in psychology from Salisbury University in Maryland, and spent one year after graduation working for a family law firm. Angelia received her juris doctor from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in 1996. After graduation, she served as a Motions Clerk for the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and subsequently worked for two years in the Office of the General Counsel for the United States Postal Service. In 2001,…
From the Seat of Power: Mary Beth Richards
By Jamie Bence • August 02, 2011 •Politics and Government
Mary Beth Richards is a 1982 graduate of the Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law. She currently serves as the Deputy Executive Director of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Prior to this post, Richards served with five different chairmen at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) since 1984. She acted as the Deputy Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau and the Deputy Managing Director, among other appointments. Richards is best known for helping to modernize the agency, and improving its efficiency. In May 2011, Richards was presented with the Federal Communications Bar Association’s Award for Outstanding Government Service, for…