During Women’s History Month, Jenner & Block is proud to celebrate the cultural, economic, social, and political achievements of women. The rate of women entering the legal field is rising and there are more opportunities for women in law than ever before. We sat down with members of our Women's Forum to discuss the advice they would give to other women who want to establish a successful career in Big Law.
Sasha Peters and Paige Zielinski on the advice they would give their younger self starting out in Big Law:
“If I could say anything to my law school self, I would tell her to keep being curious—to not get so caught up in everyday mechanics that she forgets to be interested. I’ve noticed that a lot of the brilliant attorneys I work with have a burning curiosity not just about the law, but also about the people around them. And I suspect that curiosity is, at least in part, what makes them such good problem solvers.” – Sasha
“Identify the questions that weren’t asked and anticipate those that will be. It’s easy for junior associates to view their role as primarily reactive – to receive assignments and complete them to the best of their ability and in a timely manner. But a successful associate not only answers the questions she’s asked, but also identifies those she wasn’t and anticipates those she may be asked later. Don’t be afraid to be proactive!” - Paige
Kristen Iglesias and Sharon Moraes on the importance of mentorship:
“When I first started at Jenner, I was fortunate enough to have two women, who I now consider close friends, take me under their wing. Their advice and guidance helped me navigate the everyday challenges of working at a law firm as well as the unique challenges that women face in our industry. But most importantly, their mentorship made me feel like I belonged and gave me the confidence I needed to succeed. I’ll be forever grateful for the mentorship that I was provided early in my career, and I hope to pay it forward. - Kristen
"Throughout my years as an associate I have relied heavily on the mentor relationships and friendships I’ve formed at Jenner. These relationships have helped me find work I was interested in, guided me towards new challenges when I felt stuck, gotten me through uncomfortable encounters, and ultimately empowered me to feel like I belonged here and could be myself as I navigated the start of my career. Paying this forward is important to me and I hope to continue to be a resource for the talented junior associates in my department.” – Sharon
Karam Jardaneh and Michelle Onibokun on the qualities from their female colleagues that they have learned from:
“My female colleagues always bring a unique and holistic perspective to the table which can be seen in all aspects of their work. First, they are ambitious while recognizing that a work-life balance is key to a long successful career. Second, they understand, respect, and sincerely value the diversity of their colleagues creating an inclusive culture. Finally, when advising clients, they are not just legally skillful but always look at the bigger picture and provide well-rounded advice.” – Karam
“I admire the breadth of knowledge and experience that my female colleagues possess. It continues to amaze me how different everyone’s specialties are, and how frequently people collaborate across those specialties to achieve the best results for our clients. I also admire how passionate my colleagues are about their pro bono matters, frequently working together in order to provide creative solutions to complex issues.” - Michelle
Maliha Ikram on how the legal industry has evolved for women in recent years:
"It is great to see more women lawyers advocating for and actively supporting fellow women in their journey up the professional ladder. Historically, and unfortunately, in the male-dominated legal industry, women were often in perceived competition with each other for a single seat at the table. With far more opportunities for women to successfully advance, I am pleased that this mindset is starting to disappear and that women in the law are now celebrating and lifting each other up—which is a win for everyone.”
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