MDK Attorneys on the Women Who Paved the Way

MDK Attorneys onthe Women Who Paved theWa

LawandLegacy

What advice would you offer to women considering a career in law?

Don’t chase money or titles. Find a career in law and a team to work with that aligns with your morals, values and priorities.

The satisfaction of having your personal and professional life in harmony will make you happier than any salary or title can.

STEPHANIE REINHART-ROCK

Practice Group Director, Indiana

Who are your female role models, either personal or professional, who inspired your journey in law?

My female “role model(s)” come from combining the best qualities of many women I’ve had the fortune to know throughout my life. I believe that, as Maya Angelou said, people don’t remember what you said or did, so much as they remember how you made them feel. I carry that with me throughout my personal and professional life.

I take the compassionate drive of a coworker I knew in an undergraduate job, combine that with the feeling of being heard I received from a family friend, and mix in a little courage and determination from a schoolteacher I once had. My list could be endless, but the point is that every encounter is an opportunity to make somebody feel something; and as women we must be aware of the impact we make on other women, especially young women.

Who are your female role models who inspired your journey in law?

Both of my amazing grandmothers were my personal role models. My maternal grandmother was my elementary school principal while my paternal grandmother oversaw scheduling at the courthouse in Annapolis, Maryland.

While one was fiery and one reserved, they both exhibited such strength. Both were pillars of support for our entire family and encouraged me to always work hard, have integrity and to be kind.

MEREDITH WOOTERS

Practice Group Director, Pennsylvania

What advice would you offer to women considering a career in law?

One of my law school professors was an inspiring presence and, perhaps without her knowing, changed my outlook on the practice of law. I took an employment law class with her and although not the focus of the class, one day she made a short speech for the women in the class about defining their own success.

It is her message that I would pass along to all women, not just those seeking a career in law and that is that I challenge each of us to define success on our own terms. Carve the path that leads to your happiness, whatever that may be. Working at the biggest firm, billing the most hours and achieving partner doesn’t have to be what we all strive to achieve. This path doesn’t lead to a fulfilled life for many people, regardless of gender.

I appreciate MDK because it has given me a place to feel successful – to lead a team while also being a present mother and spouse, having time for my hobbies (reading) and time to relax and just breathe. I needed to hear that it was ok to let go of the stereotypical attorney trajectory and my professor, who had achieved so much in the field, provided that for me.

What advice would you offer to women considering a career in law?

Entering a career in law requires commitment. Ensure this path aligns with your passions before pursuing it. If law is your calling, the opportunities are vast, from business to law firms to philanthropy. Seek mentorship and embrace opportunities, such as law school clinics and clerkships, for real-life experience. Proactively seek out leadership roles and network, as law is relationship-driven. As you progress, become a mentor and role model for other young women in the field.

ANN MARIE JOHNSON

Senior Attorney, Ohio Practice

Who are your female role models, either personal or professional, who inspired your journey in law?

I have several role models who have inspired my journey in law but one in particular is my grandmother’s first cousin, Ellen. Ellen was a student in the first class of women to enroll in Georgetown Law in 1951. As a child, I heard her stories of a time that was groundbreaking and exciting but also challenging. Georgetown Law’s decision to admit women was supported by some but also sparked a backlash. A small but vocal minority of students and staff were not pleased that women were allowed to enroll.

According to Ellen, some of her professors seemed to delight in telling distasteful jokes, demeaning the small group of female students, and joking that they had enrolled to find husbands. None of the professors were female and there were no female mentors for her in law. She donated money to Georgetown Law, earmarking it for gender equity and pushed the school to hire more female professors and increase female enrollment.

ANGELA KIRK

Senior Attorney, Ohio Practice

Who are your female role models, either personal or professional, who inspired your journey in law?

What advice would you offer to women considering a career in law?

To any young woman considering a career in law, I would advise them that balance is possible but that hard work is required- and my advice would be the same for men.

While not one woman actively stands out, I have been inspired professionally by many women over the course of my career.

In general, I have been inspired by their abilities to balance a career in law with that of also being a wife, mother, and active member of their community.

What advice would you offer to women considering a career in law?

I would advise young woman considering a career in law that is possible to succeed both as an attorney and a mother.

If you can develop a good support system both professionally and personally, I think it is possible to thrive in both roles.

CRISTINA CONNOR

Attorney, Pennsylvania Practice

Who are your female role models, either personal or professional, who inspired your journey in law?

I’ve always admired Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The fact that there were only 9 women in a class of about 500 men when she started in law school and how she continued to forge ahead in her career in a field fully dominated by men is truly inspiring.

Knowing how she achieved all these professional accomplishments while also being a mom demonstrated to me that it was possible to pursue a career in law and be passionate about your work while being equally passionate about your family.

Also as a shoutout to MDK, I can’t describe how amazing it has been to work at a firm with a female practice group director with a majority of female attorneys in our team who are also all working mothers. The support we are able to provide for each other professionally and personally makes this an amazing workplace.