MEET JEANETTE BAZIS
Women’s History Month causes me to reflect on the important ongoing work of the Infinity Project. Founded in 2007, the Infinity Project’s mission is to increase the gender diversity of the state and federal bench to ensure the quality of justice in the Eighth Circuit. Only two women have ever been appointed to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Honorable Diana Murphy (in 1980) and the Honorable Jane Kelly (33 years later, in 2013). Judge Murphy taking senior status recently leaves only one active female judge on this Court--again. And the past year has seen a decline in the diversity of the federal bench overall. This month I honor Judge Murphy and our other women pioneers in the law and offer a reminder of the need to remain vigilant in assuring the courts are reflective of the people it serves.
Do you have any advice you’d like to share with women in law school or those starting out in their careers?Step out of your comfort zone and you will feel your comfort zone expand. Leadership opportunities come from raising your hand for the hard assignments, fulfilling your promises, asking what you could be doing better, and listening.
MEET SYBIL DUNLOP
My female peers at Greene Espel. They are the best lawyers I know. They are involved in their communities. They are volunteers. They are good friends. Some of them are moms. All of them are daughters. And they are taking over the world.
Do you have any advice you’d like to share with women in law school or those starting out in their careers?Raise your hand. Ask to be on the case. Ask to take the depo. Ask to do the oral argument. The opportunities help you improve, and then you’ll be the one who has done it before.
MEET CAITLINROSE FISHER
Increases in female representation in Congress. We still have work to do, but it’s harder to ignore female voices when they are in the room where it happens.
Do you have any advice you’d like to share with women in law school or those starting out in their careers?Find women who have walked the path you are walking, and ask questions. If you’re lucky, you’ll find women who will not only mentor you, but will also sponsor you, helping guide you towards personal and professional fulfillment.
Caitlinrose helps clients navigate and resolve disputes at all stages of litigation.
MEET JENNY GASSMAN-PINES
I’m celebrating my colleagues’ everyday accomplishments as women lawyers. Each day, we tackle legal issues and serve our clients. Our teams work hard, demonstrate grace under pressure, and practice integrity in all things. And we do that while balancing among all of the other demands that life brings.
Do you have any advice for women in law school or those starting out their careers?I would encourage women in law school and starting their legal careers to find others who will be their allies and will form their support network throughout their practice.
MEET KATE HIBBARD
I am celebrating my female colleagues at Greene Espel. Not only are they some of the most brilliant, creative, hard working, and dedicated professionals I have ever met, but they are also some of the best friends and most ardent supporters I have ever had. They help me to be a better lawyer for our clients. I feel grateful every single day that I get to be a part of this extraordinary group of women.
Do you have any advice for women in law school or those starting out their careers?Promote, support, and amplify other women. They deserve it.
MEET HOLLEY HORRELL
It’s hard to narrow the field, but I deeply admire my mother, who pushed through boundaries as a “lady lawyer” (to use the 1970s turn of phrase), was a force for good in the community, and still made time to coach her young daughter’s softball team.
What is a great lesson from a woman in history that has helped you succeed in your career?“The danger lies in refusing to face the fear, in not daring to come to grips with it. . . . You must make yourself succeed every time. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
MEET BETH KRUEGER
This may seem kind of generic, but I most admire my mom. She worked so hard to make sure that I had a fantastic childhood, putting her own needs well behind those of my family’s. She also prioritized giving back to the community—volunteering for everything she could, despite holding a full time job and raising four kids. Finally, she always held us to a high standard both academically and personally. As a special education teacher, she modeled success. She expected much of herself and we needed to do the same.
Do you have any advice you’d like to share with women in law school or those starting out in their careers?I frequently tell law students and particularly young women to reach out to lawyers. There are so many people willing to help. Don’t be shy. Go to events, go to CLEs, get involved, and establish connections.
MEET PEGGY KUBICZ-HALL
Sometimes it is not so much what women do that teach us life lessons, as it is what men say or do. In 2017, the Senate voted to silence Elizabeth Warren over her objections to the Attorney General nominee. When the senate Majority Leader used the phrase “nevertheless, she persisted” to describe Warren’s conduct, he hit a nerve with many women, including me because for years I have believed that simply persisting in the face of adversity or challenges is more than half the battle.
Is there a personal or women’s collective accomplishment you’re celebrating as part of Women’s History Month?The Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution came into effect a mere 98 years ago. We sometimes forget that women have had the right to vote for less than a century. In 2018 women’s votes may be the decisive factor in the mid-term elections. We owe it all to the Suffragettes who overcame unknown and untold obstacles in their fight for the right to be equal political participants.
MEET GINNY MCCALMONT
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, because she is an incredible example of a woman who has been able to balance a career that led to the pinnacle of the legal profession with a family to whom she is dedicated. In public appearances and interviews Justice Ginsburg has talked openly about this balancing act, saying that it's possible to have it all, but not neccessarily all at once.
Is there a personal accomplishment you're celebrating?I joined Greene Espel last year at the same time as two other incredible women lawyers (Holley Horrell and Caitlinrose Fisher). I'm celebrating the paths that led all three of us to this firm and the work we're doing together now.
MEET JEYA PAUL
All the women inventors, whether recognized or not, who came up with ideas that have improved our everyday lives. Some examples of these women include Melitta Bentz (disposable coffee filters), Josephine Cochran (first useful dishwasher), and Margaret Knight (machine to make flat-bottomed paper bags).
What was the greatest lesson from any woman in history that has helped you succeed in your career?The career of retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor undoubtedly has many lessons to offer. For example, when she started her legal career in the early 1950s, she could not even get a law-firm interview, despite graduating near the very top of her Stanford Law School class. The firms candidly told her that they did not hire women. Then, in 1981, she became the first woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court, having received unanimous Senate approval. Such a trajectory undoubtedly yields many important takeaways. But perhaps the most helpful lesson I received from her came directly, during a brief meeting, when I was in law school. In a large room of students and others, Justice O’Connor mingled, shaking hands. As she shook their hands, others introduced themselves. I felt a bit sheepish doing that, since it seemed like we were wasting an important person’s time by telling her names she obviously would not remember. So when she got to me, I just smiled and quickly mumbled a greeting. Not releasing my hand, she leaned forward and said “I did not catch your name.” She made me repeat it, so that she got it right. I do not know whether she intended it to be a lesson, but I thought she was telling me “no matter how important the person you are meeting, always introduce yourself as if you absolutely expect to be remembered.”
MEET ERIN SINDBERG PORTER
Among the women that I admire are Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Michelle Obama, and my mom, Dr. Laura Sindberg. These three women are each hard-working, smart, compassionate people who lead authentically and with particular attention to those in our community who are marginalized. They have excelled professionally and personally in their dedication to their families. My life as a partner, lawyer, wife, and mom is possible because of the path they built for me. Plus Michelle Obama’s style is ah-mazing.
Is there a personal or women's collective accomplishment you're celebrating as part of Women's History Month?While there is still much that I will accomplish in my career, I am proud of what I have accomplished and built. Ten years out of law school, I have had extraordinary opportunities to present in court, hold leadership roles on case teams and in the community, mentor/sponsor/act as agent for others, and grow as an attorney. I have found my authentic professional self and it is good.
MEET KATHY STATLER
I admire my mom who was a true pioneer in the late 1940s/early 1950s working as a chemist and researcher at a top oil company in a male-dominated industry. The work that she did then is still being referenced and used today. She subsequently gave up that career to start another glorious one raising 5 children, while leading and actively participating in numerous social and charitable organizations. Once the youngest reached middle school, she went on to have a third successful career selling real estate, and continuing her significant charitable work on behalf of multiple organizations.
She was an intelligent woman who made learning fun for us. Our family road trips were filled with word and spelling games, and no leniency was shown to us despite our young ages. Personally, she always had a positive outlook and a smile and kind word for everyone.
Do you have any advice for women in law school or those starting out in their careers?Don’t worry about trying to ‘have it all.’ Strive for a good life/work balance and focus on being present wherever you are – at home or at work – and enjoy that moment. You and everyone whose attention you have at that time will benefit.
MEET KATE SWENSON
My mother. From her I have learned everything from kindness to perseverance, from the value of an education to how to hit a tennis ball. She is my first and greatest role model, and my first and greatest supporter.
Do you have any advice for women in law school or those starting out in their careers?You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Go after the opportunities that call to you, even if the possibility of catching them appears remote.
MEET ANNA TOBIN
I love this quote from Amy Poehler: “I just love bossy women. I could be around them all day. To me, bossy is not a pejorative term at all. It means somebody’s passionate and engaged and ambitious and doesn’t mind leading.” This is a lesson that has helped me immensely as I start my legal career. It’s okay to show your passion, ambition, and to step up and lead.
Do you have any advice you’d like to share with women in law school or those starting out in their careers?Don’t worry too much about needing to meet certain markers to get the career you want (e.g., making law review). There are lots of ways to achieve your end goal and sometimes the roundabout way is even more rewarding.