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Night-Shift Lawyering: Lessons from juggling kids, class and city attorney externship

It’s well past midnight. My desk is a toppling tower of case files and civil procedure treatises; from the next room, I hear the soft, hiccupping snores of my two daughters, ages 2 and 6. In seven hours, I’ll be standing in the Los Angeles city attorney’s office, ready to defend the city against a negligence claim. In nine, I’ll race to campus for evidence. And in 12, I’ll be back in the carpool lane, fielding a debate over whether one bedtime story really means three.

Aug 5, 2025 10:44 AM CDT

The brain tumor that almost made me blind

As a lawyer, I used to think advocacy was something I only did for others. After almost going blind, I learned the hard way that it’s also something I must do for myself.

Jul 31, 2025 10:23 AM CDT

You can talk about your mental illnesses. It’s good for business

“You can’t talk about your mental illnesses. It’s bad for business.”

I've heard this countless times in various forms. And for a long time, I listened.

I bought into the idea that silence was safer, that vulnerability was a liability and honesty could cost me everything.

Eventually, I couldn’t be quiet any longer.

Jul 16, 2025 11:00 AM CDT

Civics Education: A teachable moment about the meaning of ‘rule of law’

In a June 2023 essay entitled “Civics: Who Will Teach Them?,” U.S. District Judge Curtis L. Collier of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the following statement about the critical importance of effective civics education for all U.S. citizens: “An important component of being a good citizen is being an informed and knowledgeable citizen. That means having a working knowledge of how our government is structured, how it functions, the role of the different branches of government, their separate powers, the branches’ responsibilities and the limitations on their powers. Without such knowledge, it is nearly impossible for us to fulfill our duties or wisely exercise our privileges as citizens.”

Jul 8, 2025 3:01 PM CDT

Legal aid is a lifeline for families and communities

Each year, our organization, Community Legal Services, provides legal assistance to thousands of individuals who otherwise could not afford counsel. Our work, and that of the volunteer attorneys who support us, is essential in helping people navigate matters as simple as signing a lease or as complex as obtaining an injunction against an abusive spouse.

Jun 30, 2025 2:33 PM CDT

BigLaw’s manufactured ‘arms race’ for talent recruitment harms us all

BigLaw has manufactured an “arms race” for talent that is hurting employers, students, recruiters, career counselors and legal educators alike. Like most arms races, the action of one law firm has triggered the reactions of others, all seeking to cultivate the impression of superior strength while instead imposing enormous (and often-absurd) costs on everyone.

Jun 18, 2025 8:36 AM CDT

Resilience From a Roman: Lessons from Marcus Aurelius on weathering adversity

Lawyers have plenty of reasons to feel overwhelmed these days. Beyond taking on our clients’ problems as our own, technology is roiling the bar, and the courts and politics feels more contentious than ever, sowing anxiety and uncertainty in an already-stressed profession.

Jun 12, 2025 10:51 AM CDT

Horse of a Different Color: In the age of AI, lawyers must set aside resistance to change

“It’s time to stop standing on the sidewalk throwing rocks at whatever new AI capabilities are now available to the public. Sabotaging the roads will not slow the pace of change. … More regulations will likely do little to shape the emerging AI era.”

Jun 2, 2025 2:07 PM CDT

How to conduct an oral argument effectively

Oral argument is the most visible part of appellate practice. So it’s natural to get anxious. Here is a beginning-to-end guide on how to conduct an oral argument effectively.

Jun 1, 2025 1:40 AM CDT

Lawyer at a Party: How to handle unwanted legal inquiries

“My lease says no pets allowed, but that’s only for like really big dogs—right?” You take a deep breath, look at your inquisitor and wonder anew why you left the comfort of your home for this cocktail party. At home, no one asks you legal questions.

May 29, 2025 9:51 AM CDT

Why should I serve on a jury?

"Jury duty." The mere phrase often conjures up thoughts of inconvenience, long hours and endless courtroom drama. For many, it feels more like a chore than an opportunity. But serving on a jury is far more significant than most people realize. It’s not just a civic responsibility. It’s a cornerstone of democracy, a rare opportunity to directly participate in the justice system and an experience that offers both personal and societal rewards.

May 21, 2025 9:04 AM CDT

Orphan Socks: A reflection on motherhood, identity and healing

I stood over the laundry basket, my hands deep in the tangled mess of tiny clothes. Another morning, another missing sock. My baby’s outfit was perfect—except for that one stubborn sock that refused to show up. Three days in a row now. I could feel the irritation rise, bubbling up from a place deeper than I cared to admit.

May 6, 2025 2:12 PM CDT

Navigating the AI Revolution in Law School: Lessons from the front lines

As a third-year law student, I’ve had a front-row seat to the artificial intelligence revolution in the legal field. This experience has helped me integrate AI into my research, writing and studying.

Apr 30, 2025 10:23 AM CDT

Hit your stride and strive without strife

Embrace sustainable goals. The start of a new year often inspires lofty resolutions, if not illusions of grandeur, about the habits we’ll develop and professional goals we’ll conquer: more billable hours, bigger matters, rapid career advancement and the like. Yet with the first quarter already behind us, the initial momentum has all but faded, and many attorneys find themselves buried under the weight of their ambitious goals and the pressure to consistently deliver at a high level.

Apr 22, 2025 2:34 PM CDT

Business trial lawyers today through my daughter’s big green eyes

Fourteen years ago, I wrote an article for a business journal that summarized a dinner conversation I had with my 4-year-old daughter. She asked me to explain “What is a re-sezz-ee-un?” By the end of our conversation, her greatest concern shining through her little green eyes was whether Santa Claus himself would be experiencing any effects of that “re-sez-ee-un.”

Apr 16, 2025 2:23 PM CDT

Night-Shift Lawyering: Lessons from juggling kids, class and city attorney externship

The brain tumor that almost made me blind

You can talk about your mental illnesses. It’s good for business

Civics Education: A teachable moment about the meaning of ‘rule of law’

Legal aid is a lifeline for families and communities

BigLaw’s manufactured ‘arms race’ for talent recruitment harms us all

Resilience From a Roman: Lessons from Marcus Aurelius on weathering adversity

Horse of a Different Color: In the age of AI, lawyers must set aside resistance to change

How to conduct an oral argument effectively

Lawyer at a Party: How to handle unwanted legal inquiries

Why should I serve on a jury?

Orphan Socks: A reflection on motherhood, identity and healing

Navigating the AI Revolution in Law School: Lessons from the front lines

Hit your stride and strive without strife

Business trial lawyers today through my daughter’s big green eyes

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