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An Interview with Judith M. Conti
Judith M. Conti and Aidan Rossman
"...there are many lawyers who look at the law as the limits of what they can do. And instead, I feel like my education taught me to think beyond the limits of what the law is and more about what the law should be and how we can achieve that kind of change." -- Judy Conti.
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This interview took place in the Reeder Media Center at William & Mary on March 8th, 2023, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. The interview began with Conti discussing her Catholic and liberal upbringing which developed a strong need to give back through public service. She decided that she wanted to go to William & Mary’s Law School because it was a school based on community, rather than competition. She then discussed some of the professors and classes that had the largest impact on Conti as a student. Conti then shares why “Big Law” was not for her and how she knew public service was for her. Conti then covers the revival of the Women’s Law Society as a 1L, co-founding the Journal of Women and the Law, and Professor Jayne Barnard’s advice and encouragement for women in the legal field. Finally, Conti shares about her work after law school, describing cases that inspired her passion for labor and employment law and the co-founding of the DC Employment Justice Center. Conti concludes with remarks about how she continues to carry with her the William & Mary tradition of the citizen lawyer and emphasizing community.
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An Interview with Toni M. Massaro
Toni M. Massaro and Devan Orr
"Lucky, lucky, lucky." -- Toni M. Massaro
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Toni Massaro was interviewed in the production studio of the James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. It began at 1pm Arizona time and the interview went approximately one hour. During that time, Massaro covers her high school and college education and how she transitioned to law and why. She also discusses why she wanted to go to William & Mary, her relationships with her fellow students, relationships with faculty and academics, and her transition into practice. She also covers her teaching and deanship and how her time at William & Mary influenced that work.
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An Interview with Eileen A. Olds
Eileen A. Olds and Gongyu (Jerry) Zhang
"It's your job to speak up. And then it's also your job if you see things that don't... feel right, to address them in some way." -- Judge Eileen Olds
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Sharp, quick-witted, and carrying a solemn charm, Judge Olds shares a strong personal narrative portraying her life as one in which she incessantly pursues justice. Her interview begins with stories of a strong sense of right and wrong in her early years. She goes on to share her rather traumatic experience of being isolated by fellow classmates during law school. Nonetheless, she and her fellow African American students (there were only four in her class) supported one another, even advocating for increased diversity among students and faculty at the law school.
As the interview progresses, Judge Olds describes her highly successful career. She touches on rejoining the law school community after many years feeling unable to return. Judge Olds describes her “Tell it to the Judge” program, about how judges are trained, what they can do to be better. She discusses advice for her younger self, and for the law school now. She finishes the interview on a hopeful note, describing the law school today as a much better institution in terms of diversity and priorities.