Law Students

SuperWomen JDs and What You Can Learn From Them: Featuring Katherine B. Edwards of Alexandria, Virginia

By Noha

Bio for this week's Superwoman JD:

Katherine B. Edwards has been practicing law for over twenty-five years and is known as one of the best energy attorneys in Washington D.C.  Kathie earned her J.D. in 1981 from the University of Texas and also earned a Masters degree from Memphis State University.  She has authored several law review articles and has chaired and co-chaired several Energy Bar committees.  Currently, Kathie runs her own practice, Edwards and Associates, where she primarily focuses on work with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

1.      How has being a woman affected your career or legal education?
I graduated from college in 1969 and from law school in 1980, so I was a little older when I started law school than most women today.  This was during the time that male-dominated professions were opening up for women.  This was especially true in Washington DC, because the government was more willing to hire women than private firms or companies.  I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer, and being a woman did not occur to me as a disadvantage or advantage.  By the time I got to law school, my class was about 30% women.  It is my understanding that in most law schooIs today, the percentages are even or there are slightly more women than men.  I have always enjoyed the challenges of working in a male-dominated environment, but I also think being a woman has helped my career.  I believe, for the most part, that women tend not to get so hung up on ego, and are more focused on a bottom-line, practical solution to a client?s problem.

2.      What advice do you wish someone had given you when you first started practicing law?

read more

Full post as published by Ms. JD on June 04, 2009 (boomark / email).