Women and the Law Program

Students, faculty and staff joined the Women & the Law Program as they mixed and mingled with staff and faculty who are committed to gender justice, women's rights and LGBTQ advocacy.

The Women and the Law Program hosted a screening of the documentary RBG which explores U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's exceptional life and career for students after their first week of classes.

This year has been called “the year of the woman” because of the record number of female candidates running for office at all levels as well as the role of women as voters, donors and the impetus driving increased political participation, including women's movements like the Women's March 1 and 2, the re-emergence of the #metoo movement, and emergence of the #timesup movement. Hon. Donna F. Edwards (D-MD), Hon. Eileen Filler-Corn ’93 (D-VA), and Hon. Connie Morella (R-MD) discussed the importance of representation and inclusion, and what women and the country should expect this year in policy and legislation. Co-sponsored by the Women & the Law Program and the Program on Law and Government.

Sarah Harris, General Counsel at USPTO; Kimberly Nguyen, Associate (IP & Tech Transactions, Cybersecurity) at Cooley, LLP; Camille Stewart, Consultant (Cybersecurity & Privacy) at Deloitte and Security Fellow, Truman National Security Project; Suzanne Michel, Senior Patent Counsel at Google; and Jessica Flores, Associate (IP – Patents, Nuclear and Electrical Power Plant Technologies) at Foley & Lardner, LLP join PIJIP and the Woman in the Law Program. The panelists shared their amazing career paths that women interested in intellectual property and tech law can pursue.

Featured Deborah Reid, Senior Health Policy Attorney at Legal Action Center; Amber Khan, Senior Staff Attorney at National Advocates for Pregnant Women; and moderated by Professor Brenda Smith, Co-Director of WCL Community Economic Development Law Clinic and Project Director for the United States Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections Cooperative Agreement on Addressing Prison Rape.

Viewed confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, featuring interview with Professor Christine Blasey Ford.

The WCL community gathered to discuss concerns and questions lingering about the confirmation of Justice Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court.

Lucas Martinez-Villalba, Lena Petrovic, and Lillian Medina spoke about the intersecting forces that cause women to flee their countries, including gender-based violence. Our panelists shared with us that domestic violence, sexual abuse and violence, and trafficking are only a few causes of migration, and sadly, often happen during the journey and in the destination country.

Israel Cooke moderated a panel of experts from within the faculty and administration for a discussion on disclosure in the workplace. Individuals who face family changes, sickness, and mental health should all feel comfortable disclosing their needs in the workplace and advocating for workplace accommodations, but often these very same issues can stand in the way of workplace retention and advancement . Come listen to our panel to learn how and when to disclose personal information to your supervisors.

Brittany Ann Keil, Adjunct Professor for the Trial Advocacy Program at WCL, and Maya Vizvary, of American University's OASIS office, unpacked the neurological, work, and personal life impacts of vicarious trauma experienced by lawyers engaged in direct service work.

Professor Shalleck led a conversation on the gender implications for case analysis, and the importance of continuing to wonder, ask questions, and contextualize the law.

Erika Lennon, Marya Torrez, and Chiara Poppalardo discussed the intersections of gender in both the practice of environmental, animal, and energy law, and their intersection with gender justice.

Professor Kraiem met with students to discuss their career trajectory and academic planning for the spring semester.

Does the U.S. pass the test in protecting its citizens against the practice of female genital mutilation? Amanda Parker, Senior Director of the Ayaan Hirsi Ali Foundation, and Angela Peabody, the Executive Director and Founder of Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation, don't think so. The rising number of FGM cases in the U.S. demonstrates this harmful cultural practice truly is a global problem. Cases throughout the country have sparked also a review of the FGM legislation in the U.S. Our panelists explained the landscape of state and federal legislations regarding FGM in the U.S. and made a call for action. Click the link below if you missed the event!

Identifying the non-negotiable parts of your professional persona is the starting point for navigating the high pressure process of finding a job with a workplace environment that suits your needs, especially in a field with very strict professional norms. We hope to explore strategies for understanding the culture of a workplace, with the knowledge that discrimination is real and sometimes unavoidable.

The event featured five panelists who discussed how to joining the WBA as a student member offers volunteer, leadership, and networking opportunities for young female law students. They also unpacked "networking" and how best to prepare to shine when meeting new professional contacts.

Candace Bond and Luc Athayde-Rizzaro joined us for an evening of resume reviewing and networking!

The Women and the Law Program took students our for a Night at the Movies!

Together with Professor Kraiem and Becca O'Connor we learned how to write comments to proposed regulations that would overhaul to the rules governing campus sexual assault.

AU alumni, Alena Sakhonchik (MA ‘14) and Nisha Arekapudi (WCL ’14), legal analysts from the World Bank’s Women, Business and Law Project discussed the findings in the World Bank’s latest report measuring how the law empowers women around the world.

Brooke Sandoval from the WCL Admission Office and Preston Mitchum, Policy Research Analyst at Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) led a discussion on professional attire for lawyers, finding yourself in a suit, and tips for dressing for success.

Susana SaCouto, Director of the War Crimes Research Office, Anna Cave, Director of the Ben Ferencz International Justice Initiative, and Liz Evenson, Associate Director of the International Justice Program at HRW, discussed the role of gender in their work, including the way in which gender and sexual violence is viewed in international criminal cases, how women find their place in the field, and what they would look for in a new prosecutor in the ICC.

The Women and the Law Program held a panel featuring WCL Professors Claudia Martin and J. Jarpa Dawuni to discuss the representation and role of women in international decision-making bodies.

On Tuesday, March 19, 2018, Professor Kraiem met with students one-on-one to discuss how to incorporate a gender perspective or feminist lens into the legal curriculum.

As part of its Health Law Legislative and Regulatory Practice Colloquium Series, the Health Law and Policy Program hosted a panel on sex-based discrimination under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act and the implications for people who are transgender on Tuesday, March 19, 2019.

Economically empowering women is essential to realize women’s rights and to achieve broader development goals such as economic growth, poverty reduction, health, education and welfare. Yet disadvantages and discrimination faced by women and girls continue to severely limit their ability to lift themselves out of poverty. In the Nordic countries, a variety of public policies and services enables women to participate actively in the economy and to have equal rights as men.

Noted journalist, and best-selling author Evan Thomas discussed his new book about America’s first female Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor at WCL.