Working Towards Nine

This episode is part of a special series presented by the WLAM Leadership Class. This episode is a conversation between fellow WLAM 2024 Leadership Class participants, Genavieve Kowalski and Diana Lazar, as they discuss their perspectives as future women lawyers in Michigan. Learn more about WLAM on our ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ and on our social media platforms ⁠Facebook⁠, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twi...

This episode is part of a special series presented by the WLAM Leadership Class. This episode is a conversation between fellow WLAM 2024 Leadership Class participants, Liberty Turner, Alexis Farmer, and Cassie Weck Wun, as they discuss their perspectives as future women lawyers in Michigan. Learn more about WLAM on our ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ and on our social media platforms ⁠Facebook⁠, Instagram, LinkedIn,...

This episode is part of a special series presented by the WLAM Leadership Class. This episode is a conversation between fellow WLAM 2024 Leadership Class participants, Alexis Amy and Marianna Seal, as they discuss their perspectives as future women lawyers in Michigan. Learn more about WLAM on our ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ and on our social media platforms ⁠Facebook⁠, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter....

This episode is part of a special series presented by the WLAM Leadership Class. This episode is a conversation between fellow WLAM 2024 Leadership Class participants, Mecca Muhammad and Megan Rumbles, as they discuss their perspectives as future women lawyers in Michigan. Learn more about WLAM on our ⁠⁠website⁠⁠ and on our social media platforms ⁠Facebook⁠, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitt...

Justices Michael and Megan Cavanagh talk with Host Lauren Kissel about being the first father and daughter to sit on the Michigan Supreme Court. Justice Michael F. Cavanagh earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Law School in 1966. Justice Cavanagh was elected to the Judicial District Court, where he served from 1973 until 1974. In 1975, he was elected to the Michigan Court of Appe...

Host Carrie Almassian interviews Alisha Meneely, the government and community outreach coordinator for the Michigan Child Protection Registry. In this role, Alisha develops relationships statewide with schools, business, non-profits and the media where she educates on, and promotes, the Registry.  She also works with legislators to ensure the Registry remains in place and lobbies other state legis...

Host Nicole Smithson speaks with Zenell Brown, a DISC assessment administrator. In this episode, Zenell explains what the DISC assessment is, the four types of behavioral types identified by the DISC assessment, and what our behavioral type can teach us about our leadership and communication styles. Zenell Brown is the Region 1 administrator for the State Court Administrative Office, the former ex...

In this episode of Working Towards Nine, our Secretary Kristina Bilowus sits down with the Michigan Center for Civic Education (MCCE) Ellen Zwarensteyn to discuss the role of MCCE, its impact on civic engagement, and opportunities for pipelines to law. Ellen Zwarensteyn serves as the Executive Director at the Michigan Center for Civic Education (MCCE).  The Michigan Center for Civic Education is M...

Host Carrie Almassian speaks with the Honorable Jane Beckering, a United States District Court Judge in the Western District of Michigan, and the most recent Article III judge appointed to the federal bench.  Judge Beckering began her career as a commercial litigator in Chicago, Illinois.  She later returned to Grand Rapids where she practiced negligence and wrongful death cases. In 2007, Governor...

The National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations (NCWBA) is a unique organization of women’s bar associations, for women’s bar associations, representing approximately 35,000 women lawyers.  It provides a national forum for exchanging ideas and information vital to organizational growth and success in today’s profession. For leaders of women’s bar associations, active participation in the NCWBA...

In this episode of Working Towards Nine, our Marketing and Branding Director Lindsey LaForest sits down with Molly Ranns, the Director for the State Bar of Michigan’s Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program (LJAP). They discuss the Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program and mental health in the law. Learn more about all that LJAP has to offer at  https://www.michbar.org/generalinfo/ljap/home .   Moll...

Loida L. Tapia has dedicated her career in building capacity for communities to engage in public policy and government both at the state and federal level. Loida led MI Poder, a new 501c4 in Michigan, to engage Latino communities across the state in civic participation and political advocacy.  She previously led the Redistricting Initiative for the Michigan Nonprofit Association; the largest state...

Host Carrie Almassian speaks with the Honorable Janet Neff, a United States District Court Judge in the Western District of Michigan.  Judge Neff  attended Wayne State University Law School and was one of six female students in a class of 200, graduating with her J.D. in 1970.  She went on to become the first female partner at a law firm in Grand Rapids and the first female president of the Grand...

Host Alexandria Casperson speaks with Chief Deputy Attorney General Fadwa Hammoud about her experience making history as the youngest ever Michigan Solicitor General and the first Arab-American Solicitor General in the United States, as well as the first Arab-American Muslim woman to argue in front of the Supreme Court of the United States. Hammoud also discusses the impact of public education and...

In this episode of Working Towards Nine, our Marketing and Branding Director Lindsey LaForests sits down with Tanya Grillo and Kirsten Silwanowicz, the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan’s Vice President and Treasurer. They discuss the WLAM Leadership Class, a unique opportunity for law students in Michigan to grow as both leaders and people.. Listen to learn more about how you can join the WLA...

Host Nicole Smithson speaks with Dr. Pamela Love, renowned author, educator, and goal attainment expert. In this episode, Dr. Love discusses strategic support and the resources you need to start and finish 2024 strong.   Dr. Pamela Love is the president of DP Love Enterprises and the founder of the Finishers Network. She has authored five books—one of which was turned into a stage production. She...

Host Alexandria Casperson speaks with Robyn Frankel, the Director of the Michigan Department of Attorney General’s Conviction Integrity Unit. In this episode, Robyn explains what Conviction Integrity Units are and how they differ from Innocence Clinics. She also discusses the nuances of conviction integrity cases as well as the Michigan Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act.    Robyn Frankel is a...

Host Lindsey LaForest speaks with Justice Megan Cavanagh of the Michigan Supreme Court. In this episode, Justice Cavanagh discusses the Michigan Court Task Force on Well-Being in the Law, co-chaired by her and Molly Ranns, director of the State Bar of Michigan’s Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program. She discusses the Task Force’s comprehensive report with twenty-one recommendations to address the...

Host Nicole Smithson speaks with Alexander J. Thibodeau, Director of Appointments in Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s executive office, about appointments to the bench and state boards and commissions. In this episode, Alex discusses the work of his office and shares valuable insights for people interested in applying for an appointment.   Alexander J. Thibodeau is the Director of Appointments for the...

In this episode of Working Towards Nine, our Executive Director Kirsten Silwanowicz sits down with the amazing personal stylist Kendra Bissig, a.k.a. The Blonde Mom. They discuss fashion tips to maintain a consistent and professional look while expressing personal style and how to put together versatile wardrobe essentials that can transition from the courtroom to casual outings. Listen to learn m...

Envisioning a justice system that promotes empowered recovery, the Survivor Law Clinic provides civil legal services to survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking with a focus on ensuring their privacy, safety and stability. The clinic provides holistic services, addressing the survivors’ legal needs while offering emotional/trauma support and connections to other community resources. Joha...

WLAM’s Kristina Bilowus talks with Julia Donovan Darlow, the first female president of the State Bar of Michigan (SBM), Judge Victoria A. Roberts, the first Black female SBM president, and Dana M. Warnez, the most recent female SBM president. Julia Donovan DarlowA Wayne Law graduate, Julia Donovan Darlow practiced law with Dickinson Wright and Varnum. Darlow served as President of WLAM in 1976-77....

Jennifer Dewey, attorney at GM, joins us to discuss the difficulty of being a working mother and the systems we use to create and maintain parity with our partners for running a household and raising children. She joins our Executive Director, and WLAM Treasurer, Kirsten Silwanowicz, in a discussion about the book by Eve Rodsky, Fair Play, and how specific cultural or societal expectations have in...

In this episode, Katie Stanley talks with Nicole Smithson about mindfulness: what it is, how it can be practiced, and why it’s essential for lawyer wellbeing. Nicole Smithson became the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission’s regional manager for the Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, and St. Clair Region in January 2019. Before joining the MIDC, Nicole was an attorney with a law firm specializing in represe...

Domestic violence is common in every community and affects all people. According to National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, more than 10 million adults in the United States experience domestic violence annually. One in four women and one in nine men experience sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Attorney Jennifier (Jen) C. Smith,...