When it comes to movies and shows about court proceedings, lawyers tend to fall into one of two categories: love them or hate them. While I usually tend toward the latter, I made an exception recently to watch The Trial of the Chicago 7 – a dramatized film about the infamous trial of seven leaders of various social movement organizations (including the Black Panthers) opposed to the Vietnam War, who were charged with inciting a riot during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. A poignant illustration of the barriers activists face when pushing for broad and necessary social change, the film left me reflecting on how the cost of such activism varies by race, gender, and other identity vectors, the role of legal institutions in blocking or facilitating such social change, and the concepts of prejudice and privilege more broadly. The…

Guest blogger, Karissa Kelln, advocates that change is welcome, and shares valuable advice for those looking to pivot their career path.   Dear Potential a Career Pivot: First of all, yes, it is definitely possible! In fact, making the switch from litigator to solicitor is far less of a leap than you might think (more on this later). Second, kudos to you for realizing so early on in your career that you want to make this change. It is probably easier to do so now than, say, in 5 years’ time when you have gained further litigation experience. That said, it is always possible to change your career path – I know of lawyers who have made the switch to being a solicitor many years on in their career for various reasons (for example, the type of litigation they did dried…

“The #1 piece of career advice I ever received was that you may be the most junior person and the only woman in the room, but if they underestimate you, you can use that to your advantage. You will likely be better prepared that the others.” – Jennifer Woznesensky, Life in Law Advisor and Partner at Harper Grey LLP A recent post by Jennifer on the Dear LiL blog provides tips on navigating the transition back to work from Maternity Leave, and how to make the experience a successful one on both a professional and personal level. Check out that post here.

Guest Blogger, Abigail Turner discusses how to showcase your work and abilities in favour of being noticed by more senior lawyers and finding more opportunity within your career. Dear Over being Overlooked: Being overlooked at work is not fun. Working hard and not having your efforts be noticed is extremely frustrating. I had originally been told that if I kept my head down and worked hard, I would be successful. In today’s climate, the outcome of that approach will likely result in you becoming overworked as well as overlooked. That in turn may make you feel like you do not belong. Fortunately, you are not powerless to change that situation. The key is to find a diplomatic way to showcase your work and your abilities. First, ask yourself if you’re being realistic about the amount of appreciation you’re expecting from…

It’s time to put an end to gender-based violence, which takes many forms and affects societies around the globe. Since 1981, Women’s Rights Activists have observed November 25 as a day against gender-based violence. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women invites governments and international organizations to join together in raising awareness about this pervasive issue. It is estimated that one in three women will experience violence, whether physical, sexual and/or psychological, and the consequences of such will affect them throughout all stages of their life. We must stand together to ensure the safety of all women and girls in our own country, and around the world. Read more on the United Nations website here.