Law Students

When You Run Out of Steam...

Posted on September 30, 2008
Remember the scene from "The Graduate" when Benjamin is rushing to the wedding in his spunky little convertible when ever...so...slowly...the...music...slows...down...until...he's out of gas? Have you ever been on the treadmill at the gym and thought, "Gosh, I would be so mortified if I couldn't keep up and fell off this thing!" ? This is how I'm feeling these days...

Building Relationships with Professors: Easier Advised than Done

Posted on September 30, 2008
Fall is the time of year for Tips - hundreds of helpful lists of "Tips for Surviving-and-Thirving in Law School" are published across the internet, indoctrinating hopeful 1Ls into the rigors of outlining, the socratic method and "not getting too stressed out...

Do you hear that sound? It's the winds of change.

Posted on September 30, 2008
On the way to a recruiting dinner recently, I had the pleasure of driving with a sixth-year and an eighth-year (up for partner) associate.  Both are at the top of their game at my BigLaw firm.  Both are highly professional, competent, and competitive...

Law Firms Turning to Family-Friendly Culture

Posted on September 29, 2008
Citing handheld devices, home offices, part time schedules, on-site daycare, and longer maternity leaves, a Los Angeles Times article describes techniques that law firms are using to create a family-friendly culture that accommodates personal lives.  In the article, Deborah Epstein Henry, founder of Flex-Time Lawyers LLC, comments on the female attrition rate at firms, pointing out that losing a second-year associate can cost a firm between $200,000 and $500,000...

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Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending September 26, 2008

Posted on September 26, 2008
Australian Judge Georgia McMaster Claims Women Barristers Treated Unfairly Legal Eagle Tan Hong Siang, Who Spent Her Lifetime Bucking the Norm, Died Last Week Gender Pay Gap Amongst Lawyers - A Potential Reason Catherine Murdock Dewey, a Legal Pioneer in Boston, Turns 100 Four Law Firms on Working Mother's List of 100 Best Companies Women in Law: Justice Jane Kelly Has the Pedigree for Spot on the Bench read more

Catherine Murdock Dewey, One of the First Female Lawyers in Boston, Turns 100

Posted on September 25, 2008
Catherine Murdock Dewey, one of the first female lawyers in Boston, is celebrating her 100th birthday.  She will be honored by the New England School of Law, in Boston, where retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman on the Supreme Court, will be present the keynote address...

Working Moms as Role Models: Part I -- Role models for our kids?

Posted on September 25, 2008
A long while ago I wrote a post about the idea that working moms are role models for their children and about the judging that goes on between women including the battles being fought in the, so called, "mommy wars".  Well, I have some updates and some additional insight on the issue that I'd like to share...

Call for Submissions: Gender Diversity: Have we solved the problem? If not, where do we go from here?

Posted on September 25, 2008
The ABA Commission on Women in the Profession announced their 2008 Video/Essay Competition: Put your video and writing skills to work! Create a 3-minute YouTube video and/or craft a 6-page essay to tell us what you think about Gender Diversity: Have we solved the problem? If not, where do we go from here? Open to young lawyers and law students, winners will receive $500 and award winning entries will be posted on the Commission's website...

Working Moms as Role Models: Part II - Role models for other women?

Posted on September 25, 2008
Intro to Part I: A long while ago I wrote a post about the idea that working moms are role models for their children and about the judging that goes on between women including the battles being fought in the, so called, "mommy wars".  Well, I have some updates and some additional insight on the issue that I'd like to share...

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending September 19, 2008

Posted on September 19, 2008
2008 Marks the Third Year for the Alabama Women's Caucus of the Alabama Association for Justice Brooks Kushman Law Firm Honored for Innovative Initiatives, Including its Flex-Time Program Women Still Left Behind in Top Jobs for Judges in Ireland Janice Holder Steps Into History on High Court as Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court Lorelei Graham, of Miller Thomson in Ontario, Canada, Wins One of Five 2008 Rainmaker of the Year Awards, From 'Originate!' Women in Law: Carol Hansell 'Top Lawyer in Canada' in her Field read more

Maximize Your Time in Law School

Posted on September 19, 2008
A friend of mine just started law school, and she asked me what I wished I?d known when I was a 1L that could have changed my law school experience for the better. Here are the top three things I think you can do to maximize law school: 1. Invest time in making friends Business school students know that networking is just as important a part of their business school experience as their classes...

Table for Two

Posted on September 17, 2008
The benefits of eating dinner together as a family are well documented, but a recent study indicates that the benefits of family dinner time apply to couples without children, too. [The researcher, David] Schramm said that while more couples are dining out, simply eating together may not be enough...

Business or Pleasure?

Posted on September 16, 2008
A recent New York Times article, Business or Pleasure? More are Choosing Both, caught my eye today. Adding leisure time to buisness travel is something that my husband and I have done on many occasions. With one airfare and several days of hotel paid for, adding on an additional ticket and a few extra days at the hotel can be a cost-effective way to explore a new city...

Call for Papers: Applied Feminism: How Feminist Legal Theory is Changing the Law

Posted on September 16, 2008
The University of Baltimore School of Law is hosting their Second Annual Feminist Legal Theory Conference in 2009.  The conference, which will bring together law students, legal academics, practitioners and activists, "will look at discrete areas of the law and ask how feminist legal theory operates or could operate to expand existing law, create new law, or combat contractions in the law...

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending September 12, 2008

Posted on September 12, 2008
Law Firm Debevoise Selected as a Yale Law Women Top Ten Friendly Firm Being a Lawyer and Male Makes You a Top Earner, Census Report Shows Three History-Making Women Judicial Officers of L.A. Superior Court Are Now Joined by a Fourth Yale Law Women Names Top Ten Family-Friendly Firms Soaring Higher Than Ever, Women Legal Eagles Holde One in Five Top Jobs in UK Law Firms Lee S...

Part VI in Series: A Junior Associate's Networking Plan

Posted on September 11, 2008
I am short on time and energy today so I am skipping to Part VI of my seven part networking series to share with you today, my Online Networking Plan. I'll have to admit upfront to be woefully behind the power curve on on-line networks.  As a member of Gen X, I missed the boat that was MySpace and was a late joiner on other online networks as well...

Yale Law Women Top Ten Family Friendly Firms

Posted on September 08, 2008
Here at Yale Law Women (YLW), Yale Law School?s resident women?s group, we have just completed our third annual review of family friendly policies at the nation?s top law firms. After surveying Vault?s Top 100 firms, we have analyzed the data to produce YLW?s Top Ten Family Friendly Firms List...

The World's Most Powerful Women

Posted on September 05, 2008
Forbes magazine released its list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women last week. The list includes several women with Juris Doctorates, including Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, ranked at #72, and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, ranked at #28. Two female attorneys rank among the Top Ten, although both are now in executive roles--one is Chairman of the FDIC, the other is the CEO and President of WellPoint...

A Savvy Sacrifice?

Posted on September 04, 2008
The Feminist Legal Theory Blog, organized by Professor Lisa Pruitt at UC Davis School of Law, directed me to this article in the ABA Journal's online edition. The article, based in part on a recent Time magazine feature, characterizes Michelle Obama's career choices as "savvy sacrifices": Working as an associate at a powerhouse international law firm based in Chicago, Michelle Obama had what many would have considered a dream job for a lawyer...

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Named as McCain's Running Mate

Posted on August 31, 2008
[Ed. Note: Ms. JD will be featuring the biographies of some of the professional women who have figured prominently in this year's presidential election.  Some are Democrats, some are Republicans; some are lawyers, some are not; all have dealt with work-life balance issues throughout their careers...

Southern Ms. Part VI: Identifying Discrimination

Posted on August 31, 2008
A few weeks ago I witnessed a female lawyer (hereinafter "Lady, Esq.") accuse a male lawyer (hereinafter "Gentleman, Esq.") of sexism and discrimination. It started with Gentleman, Esq. commenting on Lady, Esq. being rude and disrespectful to him...

A Book Review on a Great Find: "View from the Top: Q&A with Legal Women Leaders"

Posted on August 25, 2008
I was in the firm's library the other day looking for a securities law practice guide when my eyes were drawn to the following title: View from the Top: Q&A with Legal Women Leaders.  It is a book in the Vault Career Library and just happened to be on the shelf across the aisle from the corporate securities collection...

The Power of Storytelling in Your Legal Practice

Posted on August 20, 2008
[Ed. Note: Paramjit Mahli, of the Sun Communications Group, and author of this article, is a former journalist who has worked with international news organizations including CNN Business News, and now helps small to mid-sized law firms get in front of their target markets effectively, efficiently, and expeditiously...

Choosy Moms choose what?

Posted on August 14, 2008
I think I am jealous.  I am jealous of all the mommies that knew they wanted to be a stay-at-home mom.  I am also jealous of all the mommies who knew that they wanted to go back to work.  I feel bad for the mommies who want to stay home, but have to work, and for the mommies who want to work, but have to stay at home...

The Law School Don'ts

Posted on August 13, 2008
Ed Note: This summer, Ms. JD solicited advice from students across the country. Here are some of the law school ?don?ts.? Thinking about getting a pet? A student at the University of Oregon School of Law warns: Don?t do it! You will live in the law school your first year, moving only between your classes, the library, and your bed...

The 50 Best Law Firms for Women - 2008

Posted on August 12, 2008
Click here to go straight to the list. Flex-Time Lawyers and Working Mother Magazine have just released their 2008 ranking of "The 50 Best Law Firms for Women." You can download a PDF of the press release from www.flextimelawyers.com. read more

Money Matters

Posted on August 11, 2008
Ed Note: This summer, Ms. JD solicited myths and truths from law students across the country. Many students discussed student loans, budgeting, tuition payments, and other ?money matters.? A common theme? Create a law school budget?and then stick to it...

The Socratic Method Myth

Posted on August 09, 2008
Ed. Note: This summer, Ms. JD solicited law school myths from law students across the country.  Many students discussed the Socratic method, most agreeing that it isn?t as bad as the myths indicate. Aileen McGill, University of Pennsylvania Law School, writes: Before law school, I was certain the Socratic method had two functions: intimidation and embarrassment...

The Competition Myth

Posted on August 09, 2008
Ed. Note: This summer, Ms. JD solicited law school myths from law students across the country.  Many students weighed in on the subject of competition. Are law students really monsters that will tear pages from books, steal notebooks from lockers, and hide outlines? Sara Brucker, UC Davis School of Law, writes: Law students aren?t monsters...

Ms. JD Weekly Round-up: Week Ending August 9, 2008

Posted on August 09, 2008
Lawyer Mariane Spearman Cuts Up Stereotypes Nina Ashenafi Richardson Vies for Seat on the Leon County Court Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm Taps Flint Assistant Attorney Cathy Dowd New Judge for 68th District Court read more

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