Seize your opportunities even if you can't see where they will lead. This gets back to flexibility. I got jury trial experience on a patent litigation during my first year of practice which led to the firm asking me to develop a trademark practice from the ground up - I wouldn't have had that opportunity if I had said "I don't do patents" when the trial came up.

Close to a third of my time including teaching, speaking, writing, committee work, and specific client pitches.

• Building a tremendous team of lawyers and paralegals, many of whom have been with me for years
• Being named one of the top three trademark lawyers in the world in 2001
• Sitting on the IAHC in 1996, an 11-person international body deciding the fate of the Internet Domain Name System

Public speaking has its drawbacks. It is great for getting your name out and building a reputation, but often you may just be educating your competitors to better serve their clients rather than bringing in new clients.

• Be patient - it takes a long time to develop clients.
• Be entrepreneurial - take risks.
• Try everything - speak, write, be involved in committees, etc.
• Be an excellent lawyer - you must be someone others seek out for the right answers.

I'm fearful that the Incredible push toward specialization at a very early stage results in women leaving the practice because they get pigeonholed early and don't see the opportunity to move into other practices.

Accomplished, driven, bright, intense, personable.

Goat farmer and goat cheese maker

Women lawyers can have both a satisfying practice and a life outside the office. It may mean you sometimes are booked or double-booked 24/7, but it's never boring.