Pathways: September 2018 | News | Leadership Council on Legal Diversity

Welcome to the Pathfinder Newsletter

“Pathways” is distributed to current and alumni Pathfinders each quarter and features program news and information, alerts of upcoming events, updates on your fellow Pathfinders, and other resources to help you get the most out of your involvement in the LCLD Pathfinder Program. Past Pathways newsletters are archived on the LCLD website.

We want to hear from you! If you received a promotion, changed jobs, are engaged in community service, or have a practice-related publication, we want to share it. If you plan to host a Pathfinder Meet-Up, or are attending an event and want to connect with other Pathfinders while traveling, let us know. We also want to hear personal updates—so let us know if you got married, had a baby, or had other big life changes, and we'll help you celebrate. Email newsletter submissions to Communications Specialist Caitlin Puffenberger or Program Manager Erin Hess.

In this Issue:

Karen Roberts, LCLD Board Member and General Counsel of Walmart Inc., welcomes 2018 Pathfinders who attended their first meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Announcements

Did You Know?
Here are three ways you can develop a niche practice area, from an LCLD Fellow.

2018 Pathfinder Mayme Donohue was recently named one of the Best LGBT Attorneys Under 40 by the National LGBT Bar Association.

2018 Pathfinder Annie Larson has moved to Genworth Financial.

2018 Pathfinder Ty’Meka Reeves-Sobers has moved to Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where she is Associate.

2017 Pathfinder Douglas Allen has been promoted to Senior Counsel at PNC Bank.

2017 Pathfinder Kristin Beneski has moved to the Washington Attorney General's Office, where she is Assistant Attorney General, Complex Litigation.

2017 Pathfinder Michael Gaston-Bell has moved to Haynes & Boone LLP, where he is Associate.

2017 Pathfinder Punam Kaji recently spoke at the Texas State Bar Annual Meeting on a panel entitled "Diversity and Inclusion: The Important Role of Allies."

2017 Pathfinder Akiesha Gilcrist Sainvil has moved to Foley & Lardner LLP, where she is Associate.

2017 Pathfinder Saba Syed presented “Speaking and Listening Across Gender Lines” at the Asian Pacific Interest Section of the State Bar of Texas’ annual conference.

2016 Pathfinder Anneke Cronje has moved to Winstead PC.

2016 Pathfinder Aneesh Mehta is now President-Elect of the South Asian Bar Association of North America.

2016 Pathfinder Jill Warren has moved to Mercury Insurance Group, where she is Supervising Attorney.

2016 Pathfinder Christine Weller has moved to Pepper Hamilton LLP, where she is Attorney.

2015 Pathfinder Stephanie Tang has moved to Stitch Fix, where she is Director of Legal.

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Keeping in Touch

3 SIMPLE WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED:

Use the Pathfinder Directory: In town or when you travel, use the directory to reach out to Pathfinders and Pathfinder Alumni and connect whenever you get the chance. And don't forget to update your own profile with job changes, promotions, new contact information, or new practice areas!
Share your achievements: Publish an article? Speak at a conference? Send that news to LCLD so we can share your successes with your colleagues in the Pathways newsletter. Also, don't forget to update your Pathfinder Directory Profile so others know how to get in touch with you.
Engage on social media: Join the LCLD Pathfinders LinkedIn group to engage with other Pathfinders on relevant topics. You can also like LCLD on Facebook, and follow LCLD President Robert Grey on Twitter for news on diversity in the legal profession.

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2018 Pathfinders: Need to Know!

THE POWER OF SHIELDING AGAINST BIAS: Due October 16, 2018

As a reminder, 2018 Pathfinders must complete the e-module "The Power of Shielding Against Bias," action assignments, suggested readings, and conduct Peer Circle meetings by October 16, 2018. If you did not receive an invitation to access the e-module, or have other questions, please contact Program Manager Erin Hess. For instructions on completing the e-module, actions assignments, and readings, please click here.

2018 PATHFINDER SECOND MEETING: Mastercard Headquarters, Purchase, NY - November 1-3, 2018

The second, and final, in-person meeting for 2018 Pathfinders will take place Thursday, November 1, through Saturday, November 3, 2018, at Mastercard in Purchase, New York. Click here to see the agenda and to register. Please note that you must reserve a hotel room by October 8 to receive LCLD's special hotel rate. For questions, please contact Erin Hess, LCLD Program Manager.

JOIN GROUPME!

If you have not yet joined, please click here to stay connected with other 2018 Pathfinders on GroupMe. Posts include job opportunities, meet-ups in various cities and at conferences, and strictly fun.

View the full calendar of upcoming 2018 Pathfinder events here.

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Pathfinder Events & Opportunities

MEETING UP WITH OTHER PATHFINDERS? LCLD WANTS TO KNOW!

Pathfinders Stephanie Hu and Mary Tu Willis, along with 2018 Fellow Shelita Stewart, connected in Philadelphia earlier this summer while assisting with Mock Interviews at LCLD's 1L Scholars Summit. If you meet up with other Pathfinders or LCLD members, let us know or send a picture to LCLD Communications Special Caitlin Puffenberger at cpuffenberger@lcldnet.com.

NAVIGATING NARRATIVE CHANGE: Richmond, VA - September 18, 2018, at 5:30 p.m.

Richmond's LCLD Fellows would like to invite Pathfinders to attend an event at the American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar on September 18. The event will feature the museum's President, Christy Coleman, who will speak about leading a merger between The American Civil War Museum and The Museum of the Confederacy. Click here for more information and to register. Questions may be directed to Erin Hess at ehess@lcldnet.com.

LCLD RECEPTION AT CORPORATE COUNSEL WOMEN OF COLOR CONFERENCE: New York, NY - October 9, 2018

Arent Fox has planned a reception in its brand new New York office for October 9 and would like to extend an invitation to LCLD members travelling to New York for the upcoming Corporate Counsel Women of Color conference and those residing in the New York area. The firm just moved to its new offices and looks forward to welcoming LCLD friends. The event is being arranged by 2015 Fellow Temitope Yusuf and 2018 Fellow Eva Pulliam. To RSVP, click here.

LCLD MEET-UP AT CORPORATE COUNSEL WOMEN OF COLOR CONFERENCE: New York, NY - October 10, 2018

Pathfinders attending the Corporate Counsel Women of Color Conference (“CCWC”) in New York October 10-12, 2018, Sheppard Mullin will be sponsoring an LCLD happy hour from 4:30-6pm on Wednesday, October 10 at The Haven Rooftop, 132 West 47th Street. Please send an email to 2015 Fellow Rena Andoh at randoh@sheppardmullin.com to RSVP.

ABA SURVEY: HELP DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS BIAS IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION

Request from 2014 Fellow Wesley Bizzell to all Pathfinders and members of your organizations:

Please consider participating in an important survey examining career opportunities and challenges faced by LGBTQ and disabled attorneys and other legal professionals. This first-of-its-kind nationwide study, sponsored by the American Bar Association in partnership with the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, will help develop and implement strategies that address biases and other barriers facing attorneys and other legal professionals who are disabled or who identify as LGBTQ. The 15-minute survey is anonymous and voluntary. All information you provide will be kept confidential; the Burton Blatt Institute will not have the ability to connect your name to your responses. Click here to complete the survey, and feel free to share it with your colleagues. If you have questions about the survey, you can reach out to Wes at Wesley.Bizzell@Altria.com.

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In the Spotlight: Kenneth Trujillo-Jamison

2018 Pathfinder Kenneth Trujillo-Jamison is a litigator with Munger, Tolles & Olson, where his practice focuses on complex civil litigation, securities litigation, white collar criminal defense, and more. He is also active in pro bono work; in a recent case, he represented an employee of the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri in securing an injunction barring unconstitutional crowd-control practice used by law enforcement during protests in Ferguson, Missouri. Kenneth is also a Board Member of the Housing Rights Center and Co-Chair of the Jay Fujitani 1L Diversity Summer Program.

Learn more about Kenneth here.

For a chance to be chosen for the Pathfinder Spotlight, make sure your Pathfinder Directory Profile stands out and tells your story.

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You Asked, Fellows Answered: How Do You Develop a Niche Practice Area?

Finding a niche practice area is a great way to pursue your passions and build your book of business. But it can be a challenge to find a specialty and build a reputation as a go-to person in that area. 2014 Fellow Joe Hanna, Chair of the Sports and Entertainment and Retail Hospitality practice groups at Goldberg Segalla, shares three ways to create your own opportunities and develop a niche practice area. Read his advice here.

You can also check out these additional resources on developing a niche practice area:

A Profitable Niche Practice in Four Easy Steps, Attorney at Work
Building a Niche Law Practice Rewards Extra Work, Special Training, ABA Journal
Three Steps to Developing a Successful Legal Niche, Forbes

To suggest a topic, email Communications Specialist Caitlin Puffenberger at cpuffenberger@lcldnet.com, and we'll solicit answers from the LCLD Fellows.

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Worth a Read, Worth a Listen

Want to Get Hired by In-House Counsel? Here's How, Berbay Marketing

To attract the attention of in-house counsel, 2012 Fellow Jaimala Pai suggests investing in relationships or looking for opportunities to collaborate with in-house counsel on presentations or articles.

Career Transitions Made Easier with Neuroscience Tools, Jeena Cho

“As lawyers, we are trained to protect our clients by sussing out the worst-case scenario for every situation. While this trait helps us to do our jobs well, it can create problems when we want to make a career shift,” says resilience coach Laura Mahr.

What It Takes to Be a Trial Lawyer If You're Not a Man, The Atlantic

“The problem isn’t merely that women are outnumbered in the courtroom. It’s that men occupy the positions of power in staggering proportions,” writes law professor Lara Bazelon of the sexism female litigators face in the courtroom.

Ask Better Questions, Harvard Business Review, Episode 631

Learning to ask the right questions at work can make you more productive and help you bond with your team.

Leading with Less Ego, Harvard Business Review, Episode 621

Practicing self-awareness can make you a more focused leader and help develop more people-focused organizations.

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Events and Opportunities of Interest

USING KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS TO UNLOCK SUCCESS: Webinar - September 12, 2018 | 1 credit hour