Forget the Linen Closet: Me and the Boys are Playin’ with the Big Trucks
By Katrina Richards • September 09, 2010 •Writers in Residence
My boss had me meet opposing counsel and our experts today at a truck stop on the edge of town so that our expert engineer could take measurements of a diesel "tractor" truck involved in an accident. Both attorneys from the other side are older men, and both the experts are older men. I stick out like sore thumb in my deep red oxford shirt, gray plaid slacks and black Tommy Hilfiger shoes. Everyone else had the sense to wear jeans and workboots or sneakers. I will be 27 tomorrow; easily 10 years younger than each of the gentlemen meeting me.The…
Forget the Linen Closet: Reflections on My First Week as a Lawyer in a Law Firm
By Katrina Richards • July 19, 2010 •Writers in Residence
In preparation for my first day, I bought a new blouse and ironed my favorite suit. Knowing that I was professionally dressed and looked nice was a little confidence booster that helped me put aside those first-day jitters. After paperwork and a short orientation with the office manager, I was taken to my new office, where a desk, a laptop computer, empty bookshelves and bare walls were waiting for my arrival. Once my e-mail was all set up, I went ahead and sent the Boss an e-mail to let him know I was ready to work. The first day assignments…
Forget the Linen Closet: Taking the Plunge from Law Clerk to Lawyer
By Katrina Richards • June 15, 2010 •Writers in Residence
I've been talking with some other law clerks at my court who, like me, are on the precipice before plunging into our first "real" law firm jobs. Being a law clerk at a state appellate court has had some great benefits. The hours are totally predictable, we have learned a lot, and we have been afforded the time to really discuss and debate the more academic side of the law, as well as seeing the inner workings of the judicial decision-making process. Now we are about to leave the nest a second time and find out if we really can…
Forget the Linen Closet: Can Working Moms Care about Eating Healthy?
By Katrina Richards • May 10, 2010 •Writers in Residence
Let's face it, the Food War is raging, the corporate giants that prepare our food are not telling us exactly what they're putting in it or how it's prepared, or how it affects our bodies. I know that pre-packaged foods, fast foods, microwavable dinners, and frozen chicken nuggets are not the best thing to be feeding my hungry little kids. But, on the other hand, I feel like I have little time for preparing wholesome meals, shopping around for good deals on produce, and even investigating products to see what I'm actually buying for my family. Another issue is that…
Forget the Linen Closet: The Perpetually Pregnant Law Student
By Katrina Richards • April 15, 2010 •Writers in Residence
I was eight and a half months pregnant with our second child when I started law school. And I was terrified. Add that to the fact that I was wait-listed and only allowed into the school three weeks before classes started, I did not feel like I belonged there. Needing reassurance, I called up the Dean of Student Services the day before orientation to inform her of my condition. (Translation: Is it actually okay for pregnant women to come to law school?) My inquiry must have sounded something like, "I'm pregnant.... orientation.... due date..... um....?" The Dean, being a very…
Forget the Linen Closet: When mother and father reverse their traditional gender roles
By Katrina Richards • March 15, 2010 •Writers in Residence
Role reversals confuse people. My husband is a "stay-at-home dad" to our three sons; I head to work each day to advance my legal career and support our family. We decided to raise our children without daycare long before we had any, and we stuck by that decision, for better and for worse. Although it may have been financially easier to have both of us working, we have managed to scrape by on one income since the beginning. Many people on the outside have a difficult time understanding why we made this decision -- even our own families have questioned…