In this episode, Kathryn interviews Catherine Dawson, General Counsel at Affinipay, discusses her career transition from big law to in-house counsel, emphasizing her interest in technology. She also talks about the benefits of using AI in legal practice, such as task automation and increased efficiency. Dawson recounts her experience of working part-time while starting a family, emphasizing the possibility of work-life balance in law. She provides advice to parents on navigating their careers; suggesting reevaluation and adaptation based on changing situations.

Highlights

• Insights about law school, career path, and working in an in-house role
• Entering a legal career in the technology space and challenging issues with AI
• Transitioning from Biglaw to in-house and understanding roles within a company
• The potential of AI for lawyers and how it can help save time and do more meaningful work
• Advice on prioritizing different aspects of life at different stages and making choices as per personal needs
• How being full-time in-house differs from being full-time at a big law and how it was more feasible while her kids were in elementary school
• How to reevaluate life stages and job demands as children grow older

Episode Resources

• https://www.affinipay.com/company/about-us/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-d-dawson

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

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In this episode, Kathryn interviews Erin Gordon, author of "Look What You Made Me Do", a memoir exposing a toxic culture in a prominent law firm. Erin shares her experience of continuous micro-harassments, personal defamation, and inadequate work allocation, leading to extreme stress and impeding her professional growth. Despite having a strong legal case against the firm, practical difficulties meant she had to endure the environment with minimal improvement.

Highlights

• Insights on the pressure to stay in big law firms despite negative experiences
• The turning point when she consulted employment lawyers who advised her to leave the firm
• The long-term impact on her career, including self-esteem issues, lack of professional growth, and financial loss
• Erin's realization that she wasn't a bad lawyer, but rather a victim of a system that prioritizes loyalty over individual experiences

Episode Resources
https://eringordonauthor.com/

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

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In this episode, Kathryn interviews Dina Segal, the Chief Legal Officer at Gusto, and discusses her personal and professional journey including her transition from a big law firm to an in-house counsel position and her experiences as a working mother.

She speaks about the Lexis Plus platform's innovative Judicial Brief Analysis tool and highlights the importance of understanding the business, building trust, and creating impactful solutions. Dina, a board member of the SunLaw Group, which supports women in-house counsel, also talks about the challenges faced by women in the legal profession.

Dina emphasizes work-life balance and advises against measuring balance on a day-to-day basis. She promotes mental health awareness in the legal industry and encourages self-forgiveness on tough days.

Highlights

• Dina’s background and why she decided to attend law school, and her early interest in advocacy
• Her pathway to in-house law and the importance of understanding the business you're in when working in-house
• Career progression in-house and the challenges and milestones for those seeking an in-house career
• Dina’s experience of transitioning the SunLaw Group's activities digitally during the COVID-19 pandemic
• The importance of being present wherever you are, whether it's at work or with family and suggests viewing balance over longer time periods
• The lasting impact of small but meaningful moments with children
• Advice to aspiring lawyers and the importance of identifying their fundamental driver or passion
• Significance of keeping the larger picture in mind during challenging periods

Episode Resources

• https://gusto.com/company-news/the-rise-of-women-entrepreneurs

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

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