The Jabot

Kathryn speaks with Catherine Kemnitz about her career in law. Catherine shares her journey from pursuing her law degree at 17, working at Thomson Reuters, to becoming the Chief Strategy and Development Officer at Axiom. They discuss the launch of revolutionary legal research platform, Lexis Plus, and the value of diversity in the legal profession. Catherine advises young professionals to pursue their passion, continually learn, and adapt to the transformation brought by technology. The Axiom business model, allowing creativity and flexibility in legal careers, is also discussed, along with the impact of remote working due to the pandemic.

Highlights

• Catherine's sense of justice and desire for a practical and intellectual career led her to choose law
• Why she started her legal career in the US
• The role of strategy, technology, and innovation in Axiom's legal services
• How big law experience can be beneficial for new roles in the legal industry
• The need for a programmatic response to increase diversity by addressing systemic issues in the legal industry
• Her career successes, focusing on big picture strategies, and leading the growth and diversification of Axiom's legal bench
• The importance of not just creating a strategy but ensuring it's understood across the organization
• Her career journey, the twists and turns, and her approach towards understanding the workings of every function
• Advises young lawyers to not be limited by inherited models and to seek guidance whenever needed

Episode Resources

• https://www.axiomlaw.com/blog/author/catherine-kemnitz
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinekemnitz

Episode Sponsored By https://www.lexisnexis.com/lexisplus

Subscribe, Share and Review To get the next episode subscribe with your favorite podcast player.

• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Kathryn and guest Jane Spinak, a Columbia Law School professor, discuss the issues with the U.S. court system's handling of child delinquencies. Jane argues that the system causes more harm than good, often exacerbating issues rather than resolving them. She believes the approach towards these cases should be shifted from courts to supporting communities, to provide more beneficial outcomes for families and children. Jane also calls for the abolition of family courts as they fail to address underlying problems like poverty and structural inequality. She encourages a focus on listening to and aligning with impacted communities for a more supportive system.

Highlights

• The understanding of advocacy as advocating for a family, not just a child or parent
• The lack of effectiveness of the court in solving issues that stem from structural inequalities
• Keeping supports as much as possible within communities and examples of effective approaches
• Addressing potential criticisms of the abolition proposal in regards to the reporting system
• Acknowledgement that sometimes intervention and court proceedings are necessary for serious cases
• Jane's abolitionist mindset, advocating for reforms that dismantle the court, not strengthen it
• The detention of extremely young children, not understanding the meaning behind their punishment
• Adopting the international standard of 14 years for criminal responsibility
• The need for supportive assistance for children and their parents instead of legal punishment
• Why punitive measures should be ended
• Proposed abolitionist agenda and that the courts should only come into play when a legal proceeding is necessary but should not attempt to solve social problems

Episode Resources

• https://www.law.columbia.edu/faculty/jane-m-spinak
• https://www.amazon.com/Jane-M-Spinak/e/B0CBZFWG4J/ref=zg_bsnr_g_10777_bl_sccl_19/000-0000000-0000000

Episode Sponsored By https://www.lexisnexis.com/lexisplus

Subscribe, Share and Review To get the next episode subscribe with your favorite podcast player.

• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify

Kathryn interviews attorney Nichad Davis who shared his journey to law school and his legal work post-graduation, particularly in civil rights where he achieved policy changes and settlements for clients. Nichad emphasized the importance of supporting aspiring legal professionals, especially those from diverse backgrounds. He urged people to persist despite potential barriers, while challenging discriminatory policies and systems. Nichad also highlighted the power of networking and community support and discussed his strategies for avoiding burnout.

Highlights

• Nichad's unconventional journey to becoming a lawyer, driven by education equity issues and social justice incidents
• How the reality of the legal world compares to Nichad's expectations
• How he stays grounded in his practice amidst troubling societal circumstances
• The evolution of jurisprudence in the area of policing and the current state of the same
• The necessity of defying societal odds and challenging discriminatory policies at both the state and national levels
• The importance of building a supportive community within the field
• The importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, staying part of the community, and prioritizing mental health

Episode Resources https://www.farrin.com/attorney/nichad-davis/

Episode Sponsored By https://www.lexisnexis.com/lexisplus

Subscribe, Share and Review To get the next episode subscribe with your favorite podcast player.

• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Kathryn interviews Adrienne Prentice, CEO of Keep Company, discussing work-life balance, focusing on the challenges faced by caregivers and working parents, which affect people of all genders. Adrienne, once a corporate attorney, emphasizes the need for skills in managing professional boundaries, a training lacking in many industries. She suggests the need for a review of incentive structures in law firms and professional services firms. Additionally, she shares tips for managing work-life balance, including prioritizing what's essential, and effective time management to avoid feelings of guilt and overwhelm.

Highlights

• Adrienne's transition to a corporate attorney role from an employment lawyer and her eventual shift towards management roles
• Her love for the discrete work involved in technology transactions practice and her work with tech startups
• Her tenure at Hewlett Packard, leading a team of about 35 attorneys across North and South America
• The lack of management training in the legal industry, noting the leadership positions often go to the ones with the most business without any focus on people management
• Keep Company and its goal to reduce preventable attrition by improving the working conditions for parents and caregivers in professional services industries
• The importance of promoting social wellbeing in the workplace as part of Keep Company's mission
• The ROI that Keep Company promises to employers, to which Adrienne emphasizes on social wellbeing and resilience
• The importance of acknowledging that caregiving isn't solely a women's issue, but impacts all genders who are caregivers or parents
• The importance of taking a step back and incorporating strategic planning, rather than falling into the grind

Episode Resources

• https://www.keep-company.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienneprentice

Episode Sponsored By https://www.lexisnexis.com/lexisplus

Subscribe, Share and Review To get the next episode subscribe with your favorite podcast player.

• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Kathryn interviews Sumi Trombley, a senior advisor at UpLevel Ops, who delves into the world of legal operations. They discuss Sumi's career transition, the influence of the pandemic on workflow, the role that legal ops can play in promoting diversity, and how it bridges the gap between legal and business concerns. She emphasizes the need for authentic work and balance, and encourages listeners to be open to change and new opportunities.

Highlights

• The role Legal Ops play in bringing a little bit more joy to the work of law practitioners
• The impact of the pandemic on organizations
• Fostering work joy, focusing on being authentic and maintaining a balance between work and personal life
• Recommendation for the best DEI practices in a legal organization
• Sumi's successful transition to a career path better suited to her lifestyle and personhood

Episode Resources

• https://uplevelops.com/our_team/sumi-trombley/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/sumi-trombley

Episode Sponsored By https://www.lexisnexis.com/lexisplus

Subscribe, Share and Review To get the next episode subscribe with your favorite podcast player.

• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Kathryn interviews Margaret Klaw who is a writer, a lawyer, and a founding partner of BKW Family Law, an all-women law firm in Philadelphia. Named a Preeminent Woman Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell, she has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America and designated a Pennsylvania "Super Lawyer" in the area of family law. Starting with day-in-the-life vignettes about practicing family law published in her own blog and then HuffPost, she has written for The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Time, and Salon and is the author of Keeping it Civil: The Case of the Pre-Nup and the Porsche & Other True Accounts from the Files of a Family Lawyer (Algonquin Books, 2013). Every Other Weekend is her first work of fiction.

Episode Resources

• https://bkwfamily.com/lawyer/margaret-klaw/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-klaw-63008a108
• https://margaretklaw.com/author/

Episode Sponsored By https://www.lexisnexis.com/lexisplus

Subscribe, Share and Review To get the next episode subscribe with your favorite podcast player.

• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Kathryn interviews Nancy Scherer who highlights the importance of diversity in courts, covering aspects like race, gender, and minority representation. The discussion also reveals the challenges faced in increasing diversity due to opposition regarding judges' qualifications and education. However, research shows no significant difference in the quality of judges from top-ranked or lower-ranked law schools. Nancy emphasizes that a diverse judiciary better serves all Americans and should be a priority in future appointments.

Who is The Guest? Nancy Scherer has research and teaching interests in American politics with a primary emphasis on judicial politics and public law. She is the author of the book Scoring Points: Politicians, Activists and the Lower Federal Court Appointment Process. The book explores why the federal court appointment process has become such a divisive political issue in the modern political era. Professor Scherer has also published articles in the journals Political Science Quarterly, Law and Society Review and Judicature on topics such as judicial decision-making behavior and judicial appointment politics. Currently, her research is focused on efforts to diversify the racial and gender make-up of the federal judiciary, and its potential impact on citizens' views of the justice system. She was the 2002 recipient of the Edwin S. Corwin Award, given by the American Political Science Association, for best dissertation on public law.

Episode Resources https://www.wellesley.edu/politicalscience/faculty/scherer

Episode Highlights

• Why diversifying the courts is important
• The relationship between legitimacy and diversity on the court, according to research findings
• Effect of increased court diversification on different demographic groups
• The challenges of balancing court legitimacy with diversification
• The increased importance of the Federalist Society in the court nomination process
• The potential impact of diversity on court decisions, notably on affirmative action in higher education
• The importance of diversity in cases related to various legal issues, particularly those involving personal experiences
• Discussing the focus on race, gender, and other identity-based diversity in studies instead of viewpoints or academic backgrounds
• The aspiration to achieve different types of diversity in the judiciary system
• Challenges Democrats face in promoting diversity within the judiciary and the potential criticism from Republicans

Episode Sponsored By https://www.lexisnexis.com/lexisplus

Subscribe, Share and Review To get the next episode subscribe with your favorite podcast player.

• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Kathryn interviews Sadiqa Reynolds, CEO of Perception Institute, who speaks about her career journey and the significance of diversity in the legal profession. Her current work involves addressing implicit bias and promoting genuine conversations about racial and gender disparities. Reynolds emphasizes the importance of having diverse representation in the judiciary, pointing out the need for law schools to recruit and retain diverse students. She finds meaning in serving and helping people and advises young attorneys and law students to pursue work that aligns with their life's purpose.

Who is The Guest? Sadiqa Reynolds is the CEO of Perception Institute, where she leads a consortium of researchers and strategists to implement mind science solutions to reduce inequities affecting people of marginalized races, genders, ethnicities and other groups. Reynolds, an attorney and former judge, has spent most of her life advocating for access for all. She is recognized for her ability to manage crises, solve problems, and build unlikely coalitions. Because of her work, she has twice addressed the NGOs of the United Nations on the subjects of global poverty and racism.

Episode Resources https://perception.org/staff/sadiqa-reynolds/

Episode Highlights

• Sadiqa Reynolds talks about her decision to go to law school and her motivation to help people, specifically related to her mother's experiences with domestic violence
• Her various career moves, such as clerking for the Kentucky Supreme Court, working as a public defender, serving as a district court judge, and her eventual role as President and CEO of the Louisville Urban League
• The pressure she faces as a black woman in her career, recognizing her own achievements, and overcoming imposter syndrome
• The mission of the Perception Institute and their work in helping people align their behavior with their intentions, addressing implicit bias, and promoting honest conversations instead of confrontation.
• The progress made in increasing the number of black female judges in Louisville, Kentucky
• Importance of being intentional in putting forward names for judicial appointments, examining campaign finance systems, and the need for law schools to recruit, retain, and graduate students of color to diversify the legal profession
• Her most rewarding experiences in her career, such as the impact she has had on community members and her commitment to service

Episode Sponsored By https://www.lexisnexis.com/lexisplus

Subscribe, Share and Review To get the next episode subscribe with your favorite podcast player.

• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

Kathryn and Marlon Lutfiyya, Director of Talent and Diversity at Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, discuss the advancements in legal research and the importance of DEI integration in law firms. Marlon highlights the benefits of joining a mid-sized firm like his, providing associates opportunities to work closely with senior partners and advance at their own pace using a competency-based system. He also stresses the importance of a firm's commitment to individual development and DEI initiatives when choosing the right firm for junior associates.

Who is The Guest? Marlon Lutfiyya is the Director of Talent & Diversity at Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP. In that role, he helps lead and advance the ongoing development and implementation of the firm's recruiting, professional development and diversity strategies. As a former litigator, Marlon brings strategic and innovative thinking to the areas of recruitment, professional development and diversity & inclusion.

Prior to joining Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, he was the Director of Inclusion & Professional Development at Husch Blackwell LLP. Marlon previously practiced as a litigation attorney at Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago and at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in New York. He is an active member of the National Association for Law Placement, the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals, and the Professional Development Consortium. He previously served as the Vice Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee of the ABA's Law Practice Division and was appointed to the Law Practice Division's Attorney Well-Being Committee.

Episode Resources https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlon-lutfiyya https://www.nge.com/

Episode Highlights

• How to integrate DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) into a firm's identity and culture by keeping it top of mind in every aspect of the firm's functions, including recruitment, mentoring, evaluations, and pro bono efforts
• Strategies to implement DEI initiatives in hybrid work environment
• Ensuring DEI efforts remain a priority during potential economic downturns, emphasizing the importance of non-monetary initiatives, and adapting strategies to focus on what can be controlled
• Implementing hybrid work environments with added flexibility by allowing employees to come into the office an average of eight days a month, maintaining connection across practice groups and levels
• Benefits of the inverted pyramid structure
• The competency-based level system that allows associates to progress at their own pace, leading to transparency and individual development within the firm
• Tips for young associates to ask the right questions when joining a firm or looking for a lateral move, focusing on individual development, firm culture, and commitment to DEI
• Importance of understanding the individual experiences at a particular firm and evaluating the commitment of supervising attorneys to the career trajectories of junior associates

Episode Sponsored By https://www.lexisnexis.com/lexisplus

Subscribe, Share and Review To get the next episode subscribe with your favorite podcast player.

• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

In this episode, Kathryn, Alanna Kaufman, and Margot Hoppin discuss the Lexis Plus platform and share their experiences in the legal industry. They emphasize the importance of doing meaningful work, creating inclusive law firm environments, and networking. Alanna and Margot highlight the values of their public interest private law firms and their focus on positively impacting clients' lives. They also talk about the challenges of running a law firm, striking a work-life balance, and collaborating with individuals who value personal growth and setting boundaries.

Who are The Guests? Alanna Kaufman is an accomplished attorney with broad experience resolving civil rights and commercial disputes for her clients. A significant portion of Alanna's practice focuses on workplace discrimination, retaliation, and sexual harassment. She is a committed advocate for women's rights, and she has written and testified publicly about sexual harassment laws. Alanna also advises and trains on compliance with anti-harassment and anti-discrimination law.

Before co-founding Hoppin Grinsell, Margot practiced at Holwell Shuster & Goldberg LLP and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, where she represented clients in a wide variety of complex commercial disputes. She has also worked as a public defender and a solo practitioner, representing early-stage companies as they navigated complex regulatory and legal hurdles, plaintiffs in employment discrimination matters, and corporate entities in commercial disputes. Over the course of her career, Margot has represented hundreds of low-income clients in criminal, civil, administrative, and immigration matters.

Episode Resources

• [email protected]
• https://www.kllflaw.com/alanna-kaufman
• [email protected]
• https://www.hoppingrinsell.com/team/margot-hoppin Episode Highlights
• How Alanna and Margot decided on their various career paths within the legal industry
• The different experiences Alanna and Margot had working at big law firms, smaller outfits, and starting their own firms
• Alanna discusses her decision to start her own law firm as a way to gain autonomy and focus on civil rights work
• Margot shares her reasons for starting a law firm and how she aimed to approach the practice differently
• Alanna and Margot describe the values that differentiate their "next generation" law firms, including a focus on public interest and work-life balance
• Their experiences building their law firms and attracting clients
• Advice for younger attorneys who want to start their own firms, emphasizing having faith in oneself and taking the leap
• The highs and lows of running their own firms
• The nitty-gritty aspects of decision-making and responsibility
• Process of personal growth and development, as well as the flexibility that working in their own firms has provided them
• Importance of finding balance and having a well-rounded team to prevent burnout and ensure the well-being of their colleagues

Episode Sponsored By https://www.lexisnexis.com/lexisplus

Subscribe, Share and Review To get the next episode subscribe with your favorite podcast player.

• Subscribe with Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts