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What Will You Do To Get In? And What Will You Do Once You’re There?
I saw this image on Instagram and thought it was a good visual for how we need to be in order to create change in the legal field. We have to abide by the standards and customs to be admitted, but then once we’re in we have to do our best to become agents of change—big and small. I talk a lot about work culture, following cues, and finding ways to fit into work so that you can advance in your career. I do this knowing that there are some people ready to go in and create change by pointing out all the internal injustices that are wrong with our…
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Stress and the New Lawyer
When you start a new job as an attorney it’s super exciting. Not only are you working at a job that likely pays more than what you’re used to; you are also working as an attorney–hello?! a major goal you’ve accomplished. It’s normal to be excited. But it seems that soon enough that excitement fades and it turns into stress. Yes, you’re being paid more but you’ve got student loans. Yes, you get to be an attorney, but maybe it’s not exactly how you envisioned; plus you’re working hard cases, long hours, in possibly tough atmospheres. How do we handle the realities of the day to day mental stresses? The…
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Figuring out your work place culture
We talk a lot about fitting in with your work culture because it’s important to show that you get what it takes to belong at your job. You want to impress your coworkers and higher-ups based on your intelligence and ability to lawyer-not to distract them because you don’t get the memo and constantly stand out in a way that makes them question your judgement or creates limits for future progress in your career. In order to ensure you fit in with your work culture, you need to assess the overall standard look, actions, and expectations of your job. Knowing that you fit in with your workplace culture will allow…
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I Roll my Rs: The Importance of Honoring Your Identity
Has everyone heard of journalist, Vanessa Ruiz, who joined an English speaking newscast in Arizona and quickly upset some viewers for pronouncing Spanish name with the correct pronunciation? Seriously, it’s amazing what sets people off, but this is another example of mainstream communities tell Latinos that we do not belong. It’s so tiring. I remember being in fifth grade and speaking Spanish to another classmate and the teacher flipping out in anger. She actually made me write, “I will not speak Spanish in class” fifty times. I mean, if that doesn’t impress upon a small child that their natural way of communicating is bad, then I don’t know what else…
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Competition in Law School
I mentioned last week how intimidating my law school orientation was partly because I heard about so many accomplished students who were part of my year, and it was intimidating to compete against them. What I wish I had known then was that almost everyone—even the very accomplished—were just in the dark as I was. For the most part, we were all new to reading case law, briefing cases, the Socratic Method, and thinking like a lawyer. Now, of course, it wasn’t a completely even playing field. There were students that seemed to magically understand the concepts the professors were presenting; they knew which supplementals to use; they knew how…
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Happy One Year!
It’s our one year anniversary!! Yes, Latinas Uprising has been going strong for one year! Since that time, I have come to meet so many ambitious, intelligent, and kind women. Latinas who are focused, driven, and poised to do great things for their communities. It has really been such a motivator for me to do more because I’m finally seeing real women who (1) look like me; (2) from similar backgrounds, and it gives me the push to do more because I see all of you doing more. Not just the attorneys, but college-grads and law students (and full-time workers, and business-women, etc. etc.) who are so goal-oriented and willing to put…
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The Drive to be a Latina Lawyer
Recently there has been some notice given to the fact that there’s not much diversity in the legal field. The Atlantic recently discussed how the Law is the least diverse profession in the U.S. Additionally, Cynthia Mares, HNBA President, wrote an excellent piece on Latinos’ representation in the law. This lack of Latino representation has serious, negative consequences because when people in power make decisions through litigation, legislation, or policy-making without understanding (or caring) about the experiences, needs, and rights of Latinos the results can end up being extremely unfavorable for us. An example of a major issue I see coming down the pike is the possible demise of…
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A Day On: Reflections after Selma
Where I went to college (and probably many other universities), we celebrated MLK Jr. Day by having a series of workshops and panel discussions about race and social justice in America. Through these events, I learned how progress and social justice only occurs when we fight for it. Now, as an adult that no longer needs college credit, I find it challenging sometimes to find events in which to to participate. I know that most of us would rather just take the day off, rather than making it a “day on,” because it is so easy to see those past struggles as so far removed from our daily life…
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Advancing Past the Good Old Boy Club
A few years ago, I was at a networking event for work. I’m usually not a fan of these things, but I was having a relatively good time, and having an easy conversation with a colleague (a guy named “Jacob”). Soon, another attorney (also a man, “Mark”) came up to us. We included Mark in our conversation, you know, because that’s what civil people do, right? After a few minutes, he turned to Jacob and started talking to him –and only him– about baseball. I was floored. I was floored that he would try to purposefully exclude me from the conversation; floored that he didn’t return the favor of inclusion; and floored…
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Balanced Diet: Tasty and Healthy Shrimp Tacos
One of my big pet peeves is the idea that food from Mexico and Central/South America is the height of unhealthiness. I have even read articles about doctors shaming patients when they make blanket statements that all that X ethnic-style food is bad. In reality, there’s so much fresh vegetables and fruits in “Latino” cuisines that you can make healthy dishes or just add a few alternatives and make favorite dishes a little healthier. This Friday series of a well-lived life is about eating healthy, while still getting to enjoy the comfort food many of us were raised on. Now, I’m by no means an extensive cook or an expert in clean-eating…