From our Speakers, Participating Schools and Partners

Berkeley Boosts Webinars

Berkeley Law
Monthly (dates at link below)

Hour long webinars for legal practitioners and organizational leaders.

MCLE credit available.

Register (free) on Berkeley Boost web page...

Cracking the Glass Ceiling a Piece at a Time

A Primer by Rose Ors and Delia Violante

Berkeley Law Center for Law & Business
There is no argument that gender inequality is a systemic issue. As such, it will take every player in the system to reverse it. It is the hope of the Women in Business Law Initiative at Berkeley Law, that this primer will serve as a springboard for professional goals and by doing so, continue to help create cracks in the glass ceiling for all. Read more...

Recording: Law in the Time of COVID 4.21.2020

Jim McKeown

Penn State Law ’06 | Director, Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC (Wilmington, DE Office)
Jim is a Penn State undergrad and Penn State (Dickinson) law school alum. He is a member of the National Risk Management and Product Liability and Mass Tort Litigation Groups. After graduating from law school, Jim started in private practice, but became unemployed in 2009 due to the recession. He was hired at his current firm in 2010, the same year he obtained his LL.M. in Corporate Law and Finance. Jim will discuss how vital it is to learn to adapt, how experience should be the focus and offer some tips/suggestions on how to navigate a recession job market.

Recording: Law in the Time of COVID 4.25.2020

Michael Tiliakos

Penn State Undergrad | Assistant General Counsel for Employment and Corporate Matters at Argo Insurance
Michael is a Penn State undergrad and attended New York Law School. He started his legal career in the New York City Law Department, then moved on to private practice at Wade Clark Mulcahy and Seyfarth Shaw. He then started his own firm, Rao Tiliakos, before becoming a partner at Duane Morris. Most recently he was the VP and Assistant General Counsel at Goodman Networks. He will discuss how to navigate the cultural landscape of firms and employers during uncertain times of furloughs, layoffs, and cuts.

Recording: Law in the Time of COVID 4.10.2020

Professor Lara Fowler

Penn State Law
Having worked for a state agency, as a practicing lawyer and mediator, and now as a professor, Professor Fowler will talk about her experience finding non-traditional job opportunities and different approaches students might try in what is a very challenging employment arena. In addition, her partner graduated with his PhD shortly before the last economic downturn in 2008, so she will provide a few thoughts on maintaining one's sanity while job searching.

Recording: Law in the Time of COVID 4.17.2020

Professor Tom Sharbaugh

Penn State Law
Professor Sharbaugh, former managing partner of operations for Morgan Lewis, will talk about the legal job market post-COVID-19. In particular, based on his experience with managing a large multi-office firm through two previous recessions in the legal market, he will discuss the employer’s perspective about hiring students for the summer, projecting staffing needs far in advance and protecting jobs of the lawyers who are currently employed. He will also discuss specific practice areas that are likely to be in demand for the foreseeable future.

Recording: Law in the Time of COVID 4.23.2020

Valerie Brown

Penn State Law ‘10 | Senior Counsel, Holland & Knight

Michelle Boldon

Penn State Law ’10 | Warner & Associates; Boldon Law Firm

Valerie Brown graduated from Penn State Law in 2010 in the midst of a major economic recession and after having her Big Law offer decision suspended as a result of the economic downturn. As a result, Valerie found alternative career options that allowed her to make her way back to Big Law the year after she graduated, and build a career that aligned with her goals from law school.

Michelle Boldon also graduated from Penn State Law in 2010 in the midst of the recession. She is a commercial transactional attorney who focuses her practice in the areas of franchise law, business law, corporate law, wills, trusts and probate. Prior to law school, Michelle received her MBA and was an e-commerce managing consultant at IBM Corporation. For over ten years she was engaged in sophisticated problem solving and the analysis of complex business and technology issues for Fortune 100 companies.

Valerie and Michelle will discuss how to focus your time and efforts in proactive ways during this time so that you can be in the absolute best position to win the job you want when the right opportunity presents itself.