Advocacy in the Boardroom and Courtroom
WLC’s Symposium week is up and running at full speed at Northwestern Law! Today, our lunch panel discussion focused on advocating for and by women in and around the law. Our guest speakers included attorneys Margot Mooney (Willkie Farr), Keri L. Holleb Hotaling (Jenner & Block), and Christine Crow (Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation).
We want to thank Christine, Keri, and Margot for coming to talk with us and sharing their stories and insights. You are awesome!
A big thank you also to the WLC Co-Director of Symposium, Aimee Quenneville, for being a fantastic moderator, and thank you to the Labor and Employment Law Society for co-sponsoring the event.
Our panelists kicked off the discussion talking about their love for their respective jobs and the people they get to meet, help, and develop meaningful relationships with. Each panelist shared how they advocate for women in their careers: Christine’s work focuses on supporting female survivors of sexual violence, Margot and Keri often take on pro bono cases focused on women and gender issues, and Keri serves on a number of boards for organizations in Chicago focused on women.
1. What does it meant to be an advocate for women in a professional field which can often be very gendered?
The panelists agreed that mentorship and partnership for women is key. They underlined the importance of providing guidance and opportunities for success when advocating for both clients and colleagues. They also focused on the value of awareness and intentionality. To solve an issue, you must first acknowledge the problem and then be intentional in your choices and in standing up for yourself and others. The panelists stressed that there are many meaningful ways to promote change from within and around the law, from advocating for women clients to supporting women associates and diverse teams.
2. What are some of the issues affecting women? How should we deal with them?
The glass ceiling as well as stereotypes are still huge issues affecting women in their day to day life, both in the private and professional space. The panelists shared that there is still an ingrained tendency not to believe women, and implicit or explicit bias often keeps women from getting leadership roles at the workplace. Society has started to talk about some of these issues, but there is still more work to do. Lawyers, clients, judges, in-house counsel, law schools, and the legal community as a whole can play a key role in changing these stereotypes and the culture within and around the law!
3. The Power of Vulnerability.
The panelists recounted personal challenges and experiences, and all agreed that it is important to acknowledge our vulnerabilities at work, as well as in other spaces. Being open about the issues you are facing, about the needs you might have at a certain time, and staying true to your authentic self is the best strategy.
4. Empowering moments for our panelists:
Supporting a mentee in achieving her goals!
Helping a woman to overcome obstacles and move forward toward great educational and work opportunities.
Protecting survivors and preventing other women from going through the same suffering. That is when winning matters the most!
5. How do I know what workplace is the right one for me?
It is a two-way street. Talk with the people. Be authentic. You must be right for the workplace and the workplace must be right for you.
Our panelists are awesome because…
They don’t put up with anybody’s “crap.”
They have dream jobs and awesome people around them.
They stand up and speak out for themselves and us all.
Thank you!
Post written by: Verde d'Aquino, 1L Representative for Symposium