"It's not bragging if you can back it up". - Muhammad Ali

Last week, I participated in the student workshops at Ms JD’s 4th Annual Conference.  The workshops (communications, self-promotion and networking) were designed by Linda Chanow and the D.C. Women’s Bar and are now a permanent program at the University of Texas Center for Women in Law.  The workshops are challenging -for both the participants and facilitators – and in the challenge comes personal advancement.

The conference attendees were an impressive, self-selected group of women law students looking for something other than pre-packaged guides for law firm success.  The conference is not a sit-back “10 steps to law firm success” event by any stretch of the imagination.  Created by Ms JD’s executive team (just a few steps ahead on the career path than the attendees), it’s interactive, it requires attendees to prepare, then to prepare some more, all the while being spontaneous, resourceful, ready.  My overall observation on the attendees?  Their pursuit of the question “what else is needed in order to succeed” included a willingness to listen mixed with levels of self-awareness and ambition (levels which I don’t recall exhibiting in my early clueless 20’s) which enabled them to take in and apply the comments, insights and constructive criticism from the experienced practitioners in attendance. This was key as Ms JD’s workshops and evaluation methods aren’t designed for “keep up the good work” “you need to take it to the next level” feedback.

Read more at: http://ms-jd.org/i-am-narrate-your-career