The Unconventional Road to Success
I recently attended a panel discussion hosted by the Philadelphia Black Public Relations Society entitled “The Unconventional Road to Success.” The panel consisted of four prominent African-American women, mostly from the Philadelphia media. They shared their personal stories of success and were quick to point out there is no roadmap or guide to follow on the way to success. Though they were not attorneys, I found that much of the advice they offered applied equally to those of us practicing law, and wanted to share some pearls from the discussion:
Mentoring. The panelists encouraged everyone not only to seek out mentors, but to also be available to mentor others. They reminded us that mentoring comes in all shapes and sizes and may be as simple as finding a person who you respect and admire, and observing how they deal with certain situations, obstacles, or mistakes.
Perseverance. If you have the right talent, experience or idea, don’t take no for an answer. Keep asking, keep trying. You may hear many “no’s” before you find the “yes” you are looking for.
Confidence. Unfortunately, there may be preconceived notions about you based upon your gender, age, or ethnicity. One way to overcome these prejudices is to exude confidence. Of course, this may take considerable effort as you are developing your business, but will become easier as you become more comfortable in your “business” shoes.
Patience. Sometimes you have to start at the bottom if you want to advance to the top. This might mean taking a position that does not pay well or is not in an ideal location. However, you will be recognized for your hard work and dedication. Hang in there.
Post by: Stacy N. Lilly, Esq.
There are many different ways of business generation. I have always found that outside interests are a great way to meet new people and potentially get business at the same time. Like many of my female friends, I do not play golf, but have other interests that enable me to meet and connect with many different types of people just as well. Many of these people have become my good friends as well as clients.
Both running and books are two interests of mine, so a book club and running club were easy picks for my first clubs to join. Although business generation was not what I originally anticipated when I joined these clubs, it became a consequence of the diverse and positive relationships I formed with people in the groups. As a solo female practitioner, I discovered that since I am completely dependent upon myself for my contacts, combining getting business with doing something I enjoyed made sense. Even though I did not fully realize how much business I would get at the time I joined the clubs.
Although I might want to take up golf at some point, now I can look to my many outside interests and find something that I am already doing as a great source of both personal satisfaction and business contacts.
WIP Helps Disadvantaged Women Dress for Success
It’s almost spring! Time to clean out your closets and donate your new or gently used professional shoes to support Dress for Success Philadelphia.
The WIP Committee is collecting new and gently used shoes at its March 29 meeting to support Dress for Success Philadelphia.
Dress for Success is a global non-profit organization with 113 affiliates in nine countries. Together, they have served more than 550,000 around the world since 1997. Its mission is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
Dress for Success Philadelphia opened its doors on July 1, 2008 to a waiting community. It has become the second largest suiting affiliate in the world, following closely on the heels of New York City’s flagship office. To date, Dress for Success Philadelphia has suited more than 6,000 low income women who are trying to emerge from poverty – and to provide better futures for themselves and their families.
The Dress for Success programs transition women towards self-sufficiency by addressing their social and economic needs in relation to work, home and community. Each woman is a success story: she has gone from unemployment to economic independence. The on-site Career Center helps clients receive individual assistance with resume writing, mock interviewing techniques, writing cover and thank you letters and online job search skills. For clients who have successfully obtained employment, the Professional Women’s Group provides networking opportunities and additional skills training, mentoring and professional development through a series of classes, lectures and seminars led by local professionals.
To learn more about Dress for Success, please visit www.dressforsuccess.org/philadelphia. For more information about the WIP Shoe Drive, please contact Stacy Lilly at stacy.lilly@thelillylawoffice.com.
Post by: Stacy N. Lilly, Esq.
Diversity Plays Role In Selection of Class Counsel
The Honorable Harold Baer, Unites States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, is serious about diversity and making it know from the bench.
On Monday, Judge Baer certified a class action and made clear that diversity played a role in his assignment of class counsel:
“Cohen, Milstein, Sellers & Toll, PLLC has the experience, knowledge, commitment and record of work on this case to merit appointment as Class Counsel. See Rehns Decl. Ex. B; Lehman Bros., 232 F.R.D. at 182. Defendants have not argued otherwise. In considering other matter pertinent to counsel’s ability to fairly and adequately represent the class, as I have noted in previous opinions, diversity is a factor of central importance. See In re J.P. Morgan Chase Cash Balance Litig., 242 F.R.D. 265, 277 (S.D.N.Y. 2007). Cohen Milstein has helped to satisfy the Court’s concerns by its note that it was recognized as one of the top law offices in Washington D.C. for diversity efforts. While I recognize that many or all of the proposed class members may be institutional investors, it should be clear to all that their investments were made on behalf of people of diverse gender, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds. That said, Cohen Milstein is encouraged to staff the case accordingly. See J.P. Morgan Cash Balance Litig., 242 F.R.D. at 277.”
http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?xmldoc=In%20FDCO%2020110307787.xml&docbase=CSLWAR3-2007-CURR
This is not the first time Judge Baer has taken action from the bench to promote diversity in the profession. Last September, Judge Baer instructed lead counsel in a class action against Gildan Activewear, to “make every effort” to have at least one woman and one minority working on the case.
Some have criticized the judge’s actions, arguing that he is improperly using the bench to promote his personal agenda. It will be interesting to see whether other judges will follow his lead, and how champions of diversity will react to Judge Baer’s non-apologetic and no nonsense approach to promoting diversity within the profession.
Why Do You Love Being a Lawyer?
I was compelled to read this month’s ABA Journal article “Why I Love Being a Lawyer (Seriously).” Our profession has definitely taken a hit by the economy, but this compilation of short stories and musings, written by attorneys from across the country, is an uplifting reminder of why we do what we do.
The article prompted me to think about why I enjoy my own career. I realized that the reasons I love being an attorney have changed significantly since I first started practicing. Yes, some things on my list I have loved since law school, but others I’ve only grown to appreciate through years of practice and change.
I love being a problem solver for people who need help. I love being able to write, travel, volunteer, and mentor. I love making a difference through pro bono work. I love strategizing and brainstorming with my clients. I love being a small business owner. I love the flexibility, control, and freedom that come with being my own boss. I love being able to schedule vacations when I want to. I love choosing which clients I want to work with. I love the fantastic people I get to meet, and the diverse network of people I have grown to know. I love the appreciation I receive from clients for a job well done.
Why do you love being a lawyer?
Post by: Stacy N. Lilly, Esq.
The Business of Law: Strategies for Starting Your Own Law Firm
On January 25, 2011, the Women in the Profession and Solo & Small Firm Management Committees teamed up to host a panel to discuss the strategies for starting your own law firm. Several solopreneurs were on hand to share their personal experiences in starting their own practices and to answer questions about law firm marketing, finances, and the many benefits of being a sole or small firm practitioner.
For those who missed it, the Philadelphia Bar Association will publish the podcast soon. In the meantime, the following is a list of reference materials that was distributed to the group:
Small Business Resources:
U.S. Small Business Administration – www.sba.gov
SCORE – www.scorephila.org
Women’s Business Development Center – www.womensbdc.org
Legal Resources:
Philadelphia Bar Association – www.philadelphiabar.org
Pennsylvania Bar Association – www.pabar.org
American Bar Association – www.abanet.org and www.soloez.net
Jenkins Law Library – www.jenkinslaw.org
Pennsylvania Bar Institute – www.pbi.org
Websites and Blogs:
My Shingle – www.myshingle.com by Carolyn Elefant, author of Solo by Choice
Solo Practice University – www.solopracticeuniversity.com/blog
Greatest American Lawyer – www.greatestamericanlawyer.typepad.com
Lawyerist – www.lawyerist.com
If you have further questions about starting your own practice, please feel free to contact the panelists:
Alison Altman Gross – Alison@altmangross.com
Stacy N. Lilly – stacy.lilly@thelillylawoffice.com
Kathleen O’Brien – kathleen.o’brien@pnc.com
May Mon Post — maymonpost@gmail.com
Debbie Weinstein — dweinstein@weinsteinfirm.com
Post by: Stacy N. Lilly, Esq.
Historic Judicial Appointment and Confirmation
A report from your liaison to the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession:
I am thrilled to report that one of the 12 members of the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession, Fernande “Nan” Duffly, has been confirmed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. Born in Indonesia to a Chinese mother and Dutch father, she is the first Asian-American to serve on the Supreme Judicial Court in Massachusetts. This historic appointment and confirmation is truly something for WIP to celebrate!
2010 ABA Women in Law Leadership Academy
I had the honor of co-chairing the programming committee of the 2010 ABA Women in Law Leadership (WILL) Academy which the ABA’s Commission on Women in the Profession held in Philadelphia on April 29th and 30th. For those of you who missed it, it was a phenomenal conference bringing together the top women lawyers in the country and those who hope to follow similar paths to success. With 550 attendees, the energy level throughout the conference was off the charts. It became clear early on during the conference that women where there not only to learn and earn CLE credits, but to truly connect with other attendees.
Today the ABANow homepage http://www.abanow.org/ is featuring a cover story on WILL which includes some video segments providing a glimpse of the action for those of you who might have missed it. Here are some links for additional WILL highlights:
http://www.abanow.org/2010/06/women-to-women-advice-on-breaking-through-the-glass-ceiling/.
This course is being presented at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s CLE Conference Center in the Wanamaker Building on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 in Philadelphia. The course is scheduled to take place from 12:00pm – 5:00pm (on-site registration begins at 11:30am) with a reception immediately following from 5:00 pm – 6:00pm. The course is accredited for 4.0 CLE credits (2 SUB/2 ETH).
Co-chairs of the Women in the Profession Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association: Nikki Johnson-Huston, Esq. and Kimberly Ruch-Alegant, Esq..
12:00 pm -Opening remarks from Co-Chairs Kim Ruch-Alegant and Nikki Johnson-Huston.
12:15pm-12:35pm– Keynote address by Keynote Speaker- The Honorable Marjorie Rendell
12:40pm to 2:00pm-1st Panel-Women Lawyers & Social Media (Ethics, Privacy, and Social Media)- Discussion of the various ways to use social media to your professional advantage, legal issues related to social media, significant case law, best practices for law firms about how to handle employees use of social media and the privacy issues that may be raised.
Course Planner: Nikki Johnson-Huston, Esq.
- Gina Rubel- Moderator –President/CEO – Furia Rubel Communications, Inc
- Albertine DuFrayne-Petrelli Law, P.C.
- Nicole Galli– Feldman Gale, P.A.
- Danille Banks -Partner-Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
- Shannon Mayforth – Senior marketing manager for Citrin Cooperman
2:00pm to 3:20pm-2nd Panel- The Women of E-Discovery– Discussion of the ethical challenges related to e-discovery including confidentiality of client information, the management and storing of client information,compliance, and best practices for managing discovery and litigation.
Course Planner: Nikki Johnson-Huston, Esq.
- Wanda Flowers- Moderator – Sunoco Inc.
- Stephanie Resnick–Partner Fox Rothschild LLP
- Lana Schell- Co-Founder & National Executive Director Women in eDiscovery
- Bridget.Logue –Bridget Logue is an Information Technology Specialist in the Litigation Support Department of the US Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of PA
- Christa Iannone –Director, Practice Support –Cozen O’Connor
3:20 to 3:35– Break
3:35pm to 4:55pm– Judges Panel-“Ethical Challenges Facing Judges – Do they Differ for Women?” -The panel of judges will focus on some ethical challenges of being on the bench and being in practice. This is timely because of Pennsylvania ’s recent focus on judicial ethics and judicial discipline. The panel would examine ethical questions that arise for lawyers, and the unique issues that arise when one moves onto the bench. It would also cover how relationships between judges and lawyers – through prior business relationships, bar association involvement, etc. – can contribute to these challenges. Do female judges experience these challenges differently than their male colleagues and why? The canons of judicial conduct will be discussed and explored, as will issues related to recusal.
Course Planners: Lynn Marks & Shira Goodman
Lynn Marks & Shira Goodman- Moderators
Honorable Norma L. Shapiro, US District Court, Eastern District
Honorable Phyllis W. Beck, retired from PA Superior Court
Honorable Renee C. Hughes, Ct of Common Pleas, First Judicial District, Phila
Honorable Ida Chen, Ct of Common Pleas, First Judicial District, Phila
4:55pm– Closing remarks and wrap up.
5:00pm to 6:00pm– Reception.
Women in Politics
I’ve been following closely the primary race between the candidates for State Representative in the 182nd Legislative District in Philadelphia, and, if you haven’t, I highly recommend it for some usual and not so usual reasons. As is often the case, the not so usual reasons are the most interesting.
If you haven’t seen the coverage – local and national – Rep. Babette Josephs says her primary challenger Gregg Kravitz claimed to be gay, then appeared at an event with his girlfriend, and after Josephs
“outed” him as being straight, he changed his story and claimed to be bi-sexual. Josephs claims Kravitz lied to garner support from the district’s gay constituents. Kravitz denies lying, and says his bi-sexuality is relevant because it shows he is a stakeholder with respect to issues that are important to the LGBT community. The volleying has made for some interesting headlines, but that is not the primary reason I chose to blog about this race.
Many consider Josephs, a Respresentative since 1984, to be a woman trailblazer, having graduated from law school in 1976 at a time when women were still substantially outnumbered by men, and having been elected to office at a time when it was not necessarily the womanly thing to do. I have never met her in person, but she called me last week to invite me to a fundraiser tomorrow evening, and to tell me about some other things that trouble her about Kravitz.
Much of what we discussed seemed like typical politics to me, but one thing particularly stuck with me. Josephs claims that Kravitz, aged 29, refers to her as an old lady. If so, what exactly does he mean by that? Frankly, the more I think about it, the less I can make sense of it since Josephs seems to be one of the most liberal and progressive candidates out there.
As I thought about it further, I began to wonder whether women of all ages would consider this type of talk fairplay and typical politicing, or be irritated that someone would characterize a women trailblazer as an old lady – regardless of what they thought about her politics. Should we expect a higher level of civility? Should we as women feel protective of those who have blazed trails before us, or should we simply accept what some may say comes naturally for those who have chosen careers in politics?
Women in the Profession 