In this episode of “Real Talk,” Lowenstein lawyers Megan Monson, Nicole Fulfree, and Rachel Moseson Dikovics discuss the Surgeon General’s recent advisory titled “Parents Under Pressure,” which described the state of American parents’ mental health as “an urgent public health issue.” They share their own experiences in trying to balance the demanding roles of woman, attorney, and mother, and offer advice to working parents and their employers.  Speakers: Megan Monson, Partner, Executive...

Today on “ Real Talk,” Rachel Moseson Dikovics, Amanda K. Cipriano, Brianna M. Ferrante, and Jessica I. Kriegsfeld discuss what law firm life looks like to associates who joined the practice of law during or after COVID. Lawyers who graduated law school in 2020 and after describe the challenges of returning to the office, including practicing time management, forming relationships with potential mentors, and balancing both working from home and being in the office. They also talk about the...

  In this episode of “Real Talk,”  Nicole Fulfree, Megan Monson, Julia E. Sanabria, and Rachel Moseson Dikovics tackle the subject of microaggressions: comments or actions that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expose a prejudiced attitude towards a member of a marginalized group. Women who experience microaggressions at work are 4.2 times more likely to feel burned out, 3.3 times more likely to consider leaving their company and 3.8 times more likely to feel that they...

This episode of “Real Talk”  features a discussion with Nicole Fulfree, Megan Monson, Kristin V. Taylor, and Rachel Moseson Dikovics about whether the self-promotion gender gap—a concept explored by researchers at Harvard and Wharton—really exists, and to what extent professional women may be disproportionately impacted by its repercussions. The hosts discuss why some women might shy away from taking credit, explore the societal and cultural reasons women may approach self-promotion a bit...

In this episode of “Real Talk,” Amanda K. Cipriano and Rachel Moseson Dikovics speak with Dr. Traci Cipriano, clinical psychologist, formerly practicing lawyer, and a speaker, executive coach, consultant and author, about emotional intelligence and how it can be used as a professional tool. Dr. Cipriano says that emotional intelligence reflects one’s ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions and use them strategically to influence thinking and behavior; she describes it as an...

Today on “Real Talk,” Megan Monson, Nicole Fulfree, and Sarah Cole address the dos and don’ts for women attorneys seeking to develop effective management skills, emphasizing the critical role of emotional intelligence in legal practice. In addition to sharing their personal experiences and opinions on the most effective management styles, the hosts explore some of the hurdles women in law face in acquiring managerial training, discuss the importance of emotional intelligence in fostering...

On today’s episode, Rachel Moseson Dikovics, Amanda K. Cipriano, Claire Dronzek, and Lauren Russell discuss Gen Z’s perspective of young lawyers on issues such as work-life balance, organizational values, and mentorship. They talk about how COVID impacted attorneys’ priorities, and their opinions on flexible schedules, partnership, and the moral values of prospective employers. They also address young professionals’ needs to feel valued, have mentors, and for opportunities to share...

Today on “Real Talk,” hosts Megan Monson, Nicole Fulfree, and Rachel Moseson Dikovics are joined by Joann S. Lublin, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, former management news editor and current regular contributor to The Wall Street Journal, and author of two books on executive women's leadership: Earning It: Hard-Won Lessons from Trailblazing Women at the Top of the Business World, and Power Moms: How Executive Mothers Navigate Work and Life. The women share their personal experiences as...

Today on “Real Talk,” hosts Megan Monson and Diane Moss are joined by  Carol Sutton Lewis, a former practicing attorney who now hosts and produces the award-winning podcast, ‘Ground Control Parenting.’  Lewis describes how her legal skills have enhanced her role as a podcaster and parenting expert, and how being a parent has influenced her career and her outlook on life; she encourages listeners to understand that it’s not about balancing ‘work’ and ‘life’ because ”it’s all life…don't...

In today’s episode of “Real Talk,” Megan Monson, partner in Lowenstein Sandler's Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice, speaks with her colleagues Diane Moss, counsel in Lowenstein's Emerging Companies & Venture Capital group, and Lynda A. Bennett, Chair of the firm’s Insurance Recovery group, about how lawyers can cultivate their brands so that they stand out amongst competitors, attract potential clients, and foster relationships with existing clients. They describe...

In this episode of “Real Talk,” the hosts talk with Deirdre Stanley, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of The Estée Lauder Companies, about her career: how she decided to go in-house, her role in the merger between Thomson and Reuters, and her passion for business strategy. Deirdre also addresses the importance of diverse voices having “a seat at the table;” of developing and nurturing relationships through formal and informal venues; of advocating for yourself; and of not taking...

In this episode of “Real Talk,” the hosts share their experiences as junior associates and what they wish they had known before starting their careers in Big Law. They offer tips on jumpstarting your career as a summer associate, managing your docket, and how to lay down a foundation for a long and satisfying career.  Speakers: Nicole Fulfree, Partner, Bankruptcy & Restructuring Department Chandra Shih, Partner, The Tech Group Amanda Cipriano, Associate, White Collar Criminal...

In this episode of “Real Talk,” the hosts talk with Diana Ingallinera Faillace about taking time off from the practice of law, and how to facilitate a smooth return to your career. They emphasize maintaining one’s network and technological skills, as well as the importance of confidence and communicating one’s entire skill set—not just in legal services but in areas such as time management, organization, and staying calm under pressure.  Speakers: Megan Monson, Partner, Employee Benefits...

In this episode of “Real Talk,” Nicole Fulfree and Amanda Cipriano talk with Lowenstein associates Mikayla Berliner and Markiana Julceus about judicial clerkships, including the benefits they gained from their respective experiences and the challenges of transitioning from chambers to private practice. The hosts discuss the ways their clerkships helped to expand their networks, review the differences between state and appellate clerkships, and offer pro tips for the transition process. ...

In this episode of “Real Talk,” Lowenstein associates discuss their pre-law school careers, and how that work experience has enhanced their practices. Partners Megan Monson, and Nicole Fulfree welcome associate Amanda Cipriano as host and guests, associates Pati Candelario and Rachel Moseson Dikovics, who all describe their respective experiences of joining the workforce after graduation vs. going directly from college to law school. The conversation covers how gaining work experience before...

In this episode, the hosts continue their discussion about how to give and receive criticism constructively. They outline a recommended approach to giving criticism in ways that are appropriate and honestly aimed at a positive outcome, and they explain the benefits of the “praise/criticism sandwich.” They also provide some tactics for receiving criticism without appearing defensive, noting that it is always OK to ask more questions, or even suggest talking about things later.  Speakers: ...

In this special episode of “Real Talk”: Lowenstein’s Women’s Initiative Network podcast, host Megan Monson is joined by co-host Lowenstein Tech Group counsel Diane Moss and special guest Sheila Bridges, founder of Sheila Bridges Design and Sheila Bridges Home. With a client list that has included luminaries like former President Bill Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris, and celebrities such as Sean Combs, Sheila has been named America’s Best Interior Designer by Time magazine and CNN,...

In this episode of “Real Talk,” Megan Monson, Nicole Fulfree, Rachel Moseson Dikovics, and Audrey G. Ogurchak discuss how hard it is to both give and receive criticism, and why defensiveness seems to be felt so strongly—especially amongst women in the legal world. The hosts address perfectionism, strategies to prepare for hard conversations, and what role criticism plays in both the business and personal realms. Speakers: Megan Monson, Partner, Employee Benefits & Executive...

Megan Monson, Nicole Fulfree, and Rachel Moseson Dikovics, continue their discussion with Debra Lancaster, Executive Director of the Center for Women and Work and Kirsten Scheurer Branigan, Managing Partner of KSBranigan Law P.C., about the ongoing disparity between genders in the upper echelon of leadership roles in private law firms. The panelists explore ways to improve the situation by trying to eliminate bias, assisting with work-life balance and flexibility, monitoring advancement,...

Megan Monson, Nicole Fulfree, and Rachel Moseson Dikovics are joined by Kirsten Scheurer Branigan, managing partner of KSBranigan Law P.C., and Debra Lancaster, executive director of the Center for Women & Work at Rutgers University, to discuss the Center’s recently published study, Women in Private Law Firms Slow Progress on Equality of Promotion and Compensation, which finds that women lawyers’ rate of professional advancement is the same today as it was in the early 1990s. Though...

On this episode, the hosts of “Real Talk” address the guilt that women in careers with long hours often feel about missing out on personal social occasions like date nights or school events. How do you explain to loved ones who are not in the legal profession why you have to cancel at the last minute, or why you are up all night working on a pressing client issue? How do you prioritize, how and when should you push back, and when should you answer that email that you received at 11 p.m. on a...

Lowenstein litigator Jennifer Fiorica Delgado joins hosts Megan Monson, Nicole Fulfree, and Rachel Moseson Dikovics to discuss how working parents are recovering from the pandemic. They describe the challenges of raising small children while working remotely;  how coming into the office can sometimes (paradoxically) provide relief; and the realization that COVID 19 did not cause problems with childcare, inequitable divisions of labor between genders, and burnout—it simply raised awareness of...

Megan Monson, Nicole Fulfree, and Rachel Moseson Dikovics continue their discussion about why women lawyers are leaving the profession with Laura Leopard, Founder and CEO of Leopard Solutions, whose research found that women are not satisfied with law firm culture that typically serves white, male attorneys and similar clientele. The speakers propose ways to improve law firm cultures, such as by practicing “the amplification strategy” to support their women colleagues. Speakers: Megan...

In Part I of a two-part discussion, hosts Megan Monson, Nicole Fulfree, and Rachel Moseson Dikovics talk with Laura Leopard, Founder and CEO of Leopard Solutions, about the surprising results of a recent survey on why women attorneys are leaving the practice of law. Overwhelmingly, respondents said it was neither COVID nor childcare concerns that were driving them away, but rather a lack of job satisfaction. The conversation then turns to ideas on how firms can better retain talent, from...