Chamber Chat With Judge Marilyn O'Connor

By Shelly Fagan

 

As a new member of GRAWA and recent graduate of law school, I attended GRAWA's “New Member Reception” where I met Pat Gallaher, law clerk for Judge Marilyn O'Connor. She encouraged me to attend the Chamber Chat with Judge O'Connor which was being held the following day.

I had never attended a chamber chat and did not know what to expect. I was warmly greeted by Judge O'Connor, her law clerk and the other attorneys already present. As more people continued in, they were likewise affably greeted and room was made around the table for them to sit.

After introductions were made, Judge O'Connor thoughtfully asked if any of the attorneys had any advice for my career path as a recent graduate. The consensus was to find a mentor, especially if I decided to serve as a guardian on the guardian law panel.

There was much discussion about serving as a guardian, and what really made an impression on me was Judge O'Connor's description of what it takes to be a successful guardian: No excuses, hard work, and timeliness! Essentially, when a judge asks an attorney for something, the attorney better be prepared and not respond that he or she has not had a chance to get to it.

The chat also focused on whether any of the female attorneys attending ever experienced discrimination solely because of her gender. There were some affirmative nods, and one attorney recounted walking into the courtroom only to be asked if she was the court reporter. Interestingly, the more experienced attorneys agreed that the gender discrimination they faced when they began their careers 30 years ago is still taking place today.

Opening the discussion to specific questions about family and matrimonial law practice, Judge O'Connor provided a forum where I learned a bit more about the law. Yet, I left with a lot more than that. I departed with a renewed sense of career possibilities, an appreciation for the challenges that await, and most importantly, encouragement from the legal professionals that I met.