Lawyers Club Blog (ARCHIVE)

What’s a Girl Boss to do When It’s Not Just Lunch? – Part I

I endured various forms of sexual harassment during the early part of my career. I have decided to share one such incident here with you. 

Taking Networking to the Mat!  

Do you play golf? Personally, I am not a fan of the sport for several reasons that I will address below. I recognize, however, that many people enjoy golf, and some find themselves obsessed with it. Most of those people are unquestionably men. Should more women be encouraged to “hit the links?”

“Why Jamie Quient’s Disclosure Was Important”

For those of you who missed it—in February’s “LC News,” our President, Jamie Quient bravely disclosed an incident of sexual harassment that happened to her when she was a law student intern. Why is it important for people like this to speak out about past incidents of sexual harassment?

Stand Up, Speak Out, Take Action

“What’s your sexual fantasy?” 
Not exactly the question I expected to get from a partner at a law firm where I was interning in law school. But there I was, like I deer caught in headlights, expected to answer in front of a group of colleagues at a work-sponsored function.

The Passing of Judge Vaino Hassan Spencer; a Trailblazer for African American Women in the Judiciary

Today, we remember the legacy of Judge Vaino Hassan Spencer who has passed away on October 25, 2016 at the age of 96, and recognize her as an individual who broke barriers in the legal field. Judge Spencer was the first African-American woman appointed to a judgeship in California and co-founded the Black Women Lawyers Association and the National Association of Women Judges. Her passing reminds us to recognize, honor, and thank, not only Judge Spencer, but also all African-American and minority women for their contributions to the legal community.

The Passing of Judge Vaino Hassan Spencer; a Trailblazer for African American Women in the Judiciary

Today, we remember the legacy of Judge Vaino Hassan Spencer who has passed away on October 25, 2016 at the age of 96, and recognize her as an individual who broke barriers in the legal field. Judge Spencer was the first African-American woman appointed to a judgeship in California and co-founded the Black Women Lawyers Association and the National Association of Women Judges. Her passing reminds us to recognize, honor, and thank, not only Judge Spencer, but also all African-American and minority women for their contributions to the legal community.

Now More Than Ever

Shortly after last year’s presidential election, The American Lawyer featured an article in which well-known lawyer David Boies reflected on the election results. He offered many interesting observations, but one stood out for me and continues to give me pause. As “bad news,” he noted the fact that women are not as invested in their own progress as other groups that have suffered discrimination. Because women are in the majority, he thinks they may have a sense of complacency and remain subject to environmental influences like tradition, marriage, and the views of their husbands. I don’t find his complacency observation accurate with respect to women lawyers I know, particularly those in Lawyers Club! But, does his observation ring true for women as a whole in this country? I’m not sure.

Stories to Solutions: Post #1

It was just two years ago.  I was a law clerk for a seasoned male attorney in San Diego. I was actually getting paid (!), finishing law school, and succeeding at a job that I hoped to return to after the bar exam. That was, until, the sexual harassment began. It happened multiple times, over a span of about two weeks. There was the joke about whether or not I was wearing underwear. There was the time he attributed the fact I was single to being insubordinate because I dared to have an opinion contrary to his. The last straw came when, after I spent hours researching and writing an important brief, he reduced my likelihood of success down to whether or not the judge hearing the case would find me sexually attractive.

The Hidden Story of the 2016 Election: Rise of Women of Color in Government

When I think about what this election cycle has meant for women of color, anger and fear are two of the predominate words that come to mind and the representation of women in government stayed about the same. However, one story has lingered in the shadows, and is a small beacon of hope in these troubling times: After the 2016 election, a record number of women of color will be serving in Congress.

Defining Ourselves - PART II

PART I of II --- was posted on 1/3/17 

WHO are YOU? Take a moment to soak in your response to that question. Grab a note pad. Let’s play with this idea and how to add more congruence of ourselves into the professional arena. Write down your top three best personal qualities (for this exercise, lets refer to these as our “authentic self”). Take a moment to acknowledge how amazing you are. Next, write a list of five ways to appropriately incorporate those qualities into your client or colleague interactions (“action points”). These five action points can be small or large but make sure they are easy to practice and feel peaceful. Now, incorporate more of your authentic self into your daily routine, enacting one per day for one week. As you incorporate more of your authentic self into your professional practice, make note of three things: (1) How did you feel practicing your action points and allowing more of your authentic self to be present at work? (2) Did you notice any differences in your interactions? (3) Did your awareness and presence with your authentic self impact your perception of WHO you are?