CHAMPION STORIES
CRACKS IN THE GLASS CEILING Women’s History Month Panel Discussion Featured 5 Esteemed Alumni
BY HASINI JAYAWARDENA AND KEITH PIERCE
As the first law school in the world founded by women, American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) has a long history of breaking glass ceilings. During Women’s History Month, the Dean’s office hosted a well-attended panel discussion entitled “Making Cracks in the Glass Ceiling: AUWCL Women Graduating Navigating Big Law,” featuring five esteemed alumni, including Tara Castillo ’07, Pamela Deese ’83, Claudia Lewis ’95, Melissa Lim Patterson ’13, and Dana Rosenfeld ’84. The panelists shared their experiences navigating big firm environments as women, including their trials and tribulations, as well as the power of the people who looked out for them. The conversation was moderated by Professor Lia Epperson. Dean Roger A. Fairfax Jr. opened the panel with a summary of key data on women in the legal profession.
The panelists spoke about a range of experiences, highlighting the various avenues at AUWCL that helped them build the skills that have led to their success. The collaborative nature of the school was a particular draw for Castillo, chair of the Structured & Warehouse Finance Team and a partner in Alston & Bird’s Finance Group.
“I wanted a legal background, but in terms of looking for a law firm, in order for me to succeed, I needed to be somewhere equally collaborative,” Castillo said.
Deese, a partner at ArentFox Schiff and co-chair of the DC Office Women’s Initiative, emphasized the importance of having a woman professional as a leader in an organization where she worked with her, never for her.
“I have taken that mentoring with me where anyone that works alongside me is working with me, never for me,” she said. “I cannot emphasize the importance of good mentors.”
Rosenfeld, managing partner of Kelley Drye and member of the firm’s Executive Committee and past chair of the firm’s Privacy and Information Security practice, encouraged law students to take advantage of government agency opportunities in Washington, DC. She also shared how she overcame challenges as a litigator, including being called “cupcake” by a judge who could not remember her name.
“You hold your head up and make your way through,” she advised. “It’s about looking for the people who are looking out for you.” Patterson, a first-generation lawyer who recently made partner at Jones Day, shared her experience of being underestimated. “I know what my powers and skills are, and you guys have them too,” she said. “It’s about leveraging what your authentic style of lawyering is. Firms like AUWCL students because we are hard workers.”
Lewis, a partner at Venable and co-chair of their Food and Drug Administration Group, emphasized the importance of finding opportunities and making oneself indispensable. “Make sure you are not putting all your eggs in your basket,” she advised. “Make yourself so valuable by being able to see things through two different lenses.”
(Leſt to right) Pam Deese, Claudia Lewis, Dana Rosenfeld, Melissa Lim Patterson, Tara Castillo, and Lia Epperson.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
