It’s 2025. Are you feeling good? How is your self-esteem?
Self-esteem is your subjective sense of overall personal worth or value. According to Kendra Cherry, author of “What is Self Esteem?”, “Self-esteem impacts your decision-making process, relationships, emotional health, and overall well-being. It also influences motivation, as people with a healthy, positive view of themselves understand their potential and may feel inspired to take on new challenges.”
Niecy Nash and Sheryl Lee Ralph, two actresses who have worked in the entertainment industry for many years, recently gave us public examples of powerful self-esteem moments – gold star moments.
Niecy Nash’s acceptance speech for winning a TV Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress made the audience howl with laughter when she declared: “I’m a winner, baby. And do you know who I want to thank? I want to thank me. For believing in me and doing what they said I could not do. And I want to say in front of all you beautiful people, go on girl, with your bad self.”
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As a reminder, as part of a monthly blog series, we’ve invited members of the NCBA Women in the Profession (WIP) Committee to share their insights on common challenges faced by women in the legal profession. As you will see in their answers, each member brings a unique perspective and personal experience, resulting in varied responses to the same questions. This diversity of thought underscores that there is rarely a single “right” answer to any given situation. We hope these insights offer valuable perspectives for other female attorneys navigating similar dilemmas in the legal workplace.
Parenting is hard. I am the last parent to pick up my children from daycare.
Parenting as an attorney is hard. I miss my children’s activities to meet work obligations.
Parenting with a partner who travels for work is hard. I must scramble when school is out to make sure I have care so I can work.
And this is my life. Does this sound familiar to any of you? Even though I have an invaluable partner who shares most of the domestic responsibility (thank you, Fair Play!), it is hard for him to help when he is traveling for work. I have found it challenging, frustrating, and isolating to be a mom and an attorney. I wanted to share – and/or complain – about my personal experiences, hoping that others in a similar situation may find some solidarity. On a regular basis, I experience one or more of the following dilemmas.
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What law school did you attend and what was your graduation year?
North Carolina Central University School of Law, 2006.
Describe a typical work day for you.
I work out in the morning and after lunch, I meet with clients and draft documents for clients. These documents include wills, financial powers of attorney, health care powers of attorney including an advance directive, and medical justification for receiving benefits or accommodations. I also meet with clients to discuss end-of-life planning for themselves and others including Medicaid applications. I also spend considerable time in my role as Disaster Disability Integration for the North Carolina Region of the Red Cross.
What law school did you attend and what was your graduation year?
Tulane Law School, 2003.
Describe a typical work day for you.
As a patent attorney, my typical workday likely differs from that of many other attorneys. A significant part of my day is spent reading about, analyzing, and writing about the technology involved in the patent matters I’m handling. I also spend considerable time consulting with clients, discussing their technology, strategizing how to protect their innovations, and finding ways to navigate around the innovations of others.
What law school did you attend and what is your graduation year?
Wake Forest University School of Law, 2018.
Describe a typical work day for you.
I love the challenge and daily variety of my work as a commercial litigator at Wyrick Robbins. Typically, I am researching, writing, advising clients, preparing for and attending hearings and depositions, consulting with my colleagues, and supervising and mentoring younger attorneys.
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As part of a monthly blog series, we’ve invited members of the NCBA Women in the Profession (WIP) Committee to share their insights on common challenges faced by women in the legal profession. As you will see in their answers, each member brings a unique perspective and personal experience, resulting in varied responses to the same questions. This diversity of thought underscores that there is rarely a single “right” answer to any given situation. We hope these insights offer valuable perspectives for other female attorneys navigating similar dilemmas in the legal workplace.
Twenty-four years ago, I received a call to let me know that my mother needed to be admitted to the hospital. For me, this phone call was the beginning of a fifteen-year period of caregiving which lasted until my mother’s death. I became responsible for my mother’s care all day, every day for fourteen of those fifteen years.
I was part of a two-attorney practice that did not have a family leave policy. I had to adjust my work schedule to accommodate caring for my mother, including managing and overseeing caregivers in her home. In many ways, I was lucky in that resources were available for care; that documents were in place to allow me to step in and handle my mother’s affairs; and that I was not directly denied the opportunity to take care of my family. Many people in our profession are not so lucky.
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My name is Lauren Snyder, and I’m honored to serve as Vice Chair of the WIP Committee this year. I’m also excited to be featured in the first member spotlight this year and look forward to reading about my fellow members in the months to come!
What law school did you attend, and what was your graduation year?
GW Law, 2013.
Describe what a typical workday is like.
I just moved in-house after ten and a half years in private practice, so it has shifted quite a bit. My job now is negotiating contracts and solving corporate problems. I love the mix of drafting/editing agreements and meeting with folks to help solve problems in real time. I’d say I spend about half my time in meetings and half drafting. I also have awesome colleagues who I love to get lunch with or attend various SAS activities with. (I recently took an amazing cooking class and have signed up for a ballet strength conditioning class in October.)
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