APABA-DC Attorney Mentoring Reception

Written by Christopher S. Studebaker, Practicing Attorney Resource Committee

APABA-DC’s Practicing Resource Attorney Committee held its first annual Attorney Mentoring Program on May 9, 2006 at Arent Fox PLLC. The firm generously hosted the kick-off reception. The Attorney Mentoring Program provides seasoned practitioners and junior attorneys with the opportunity to broaden their network and gain insight from each other’s professional and personal experiences. Approximately 15 individuals attended the event, including solo-practitioners, in-house counsel, government attorneys and private practitioners. Special thanks to Jessica L. Salvaterra with Arent Fox PLLC for securing facilities, food and refreshments. Thanks also to Suzy Hung with Arent Fox PLLC for her support. If you are interested in participating in APABA-DC’s Attorney Mentoring Program as a mentor or mentee, please contact May C. Lee, Practicing Attorney Resource Chair, at par@apaba-dc.org.

Taking Charge of Your Career: Strategies to Maximize Your Upward Spiral

APABA-DC’s Practicing Attorney Resource Committee held a career development event, Taking Charge of Your Career: Strategies to Maximize Your Upward Spiral, on April 27, 2006 at the law firm of Covington & Burling. The approximately 30 participants engaged in an entertaining and thought-provoking discussion with guest speaker, Dr. Glenda Nogami, who prompted the interactive two-hour session by asking: What position do you want to have on the day you retire? How will you get there? What’s important to you: money, power, status, professional expertise, supportive working environment, family? By posing these and other questions, Dr. Nogami facilitated the process for establishing career goals, identifying and developing sure-fire strategies to accomplish these goals and identifying what can and cannot be controlled in our work environment to maximize career advancement.

In discussing strategies to keep control of one’s career path, Dr. Nogami presented three career development models and a strategic planning model. Participants then discussed positive and negative stereotypes of the Asian-American workforce; deadly barriers to equal opportunity; absolute career “de-railers”; raising one’s emotional intelligence; and building executive-level core qualifications. Throughout her absorbing presentation, Dr. Nogami offered tips on presenting oneself in the best possible light and re-emphasized the importance of networking and being supportive on our way up, down or laterally. Following the presentation, participants had the opportunity to network and talk individually with Dr. Nogami.

Dr. Nogami is Dean of Academics at the US Army Management Staff College (AMSC). Prior to joining AMSC, Dr. Nogami directed the Workforce Environment and Effectiveness Program in the Department of Homeland Security and was a Professor and Director of Curriculum Evaluation at the US Army War College. She received her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Purdue University.

Special thanks goes to Robert Wone and Kathy Ng for hosting the event at their firm and to Audrey Lee, PAR Committee, for co-organizing the event. Thank you also goes to Café Asia for catering the event and providing a tray of complimentary crab wontons and to the PAR Committee volunteers for managing the event.

Written by Audrey Lee, Practicing Attorney Resource Committee