In this series we peek behind the curtain at the NALP Board of Directors. This talented group of legal career professionals from various backgrounds seek to serve their organizations with distinction. As NALP volunteer leaders they also want to inspire others to get involved with NALP and build meaningful and powerful professional networks of their own.

Myriah Graves, NALP Board Member
Director of Professional Development at Fogler, Rubinoff LLP

September 9, 2024

What achievement are you most proud of in your career?
I take great pride in the relationships I have built and maintained with members of my firm over the past 24 years.

How did you get involved with NALP?
Upon attending my first NALP conference, I found myself amongst unfamiliar faces. Determined to forge connections and expand my knowledge base, I proactively volunteered for numerous NALP working groups. It was such a positive experience that I have continued to expand my involvement with NALP each year.

What NALP resource, event, or program has been beneficial for you and why?
The Annual Education Conference offers invaluable resources, equipping attendees with tools and innovative ideas to elevate their roles. Additionally, the NALP Bulletin+ and newsletters serve as excellent repositories of information, further enriching professional knowledge and development.

If you have a mentor in the profession, how did that person help you achieve your career goals?
By sharing their own career trajectory and experiences, my mentor has helped me chart a clear path for my own career. They have advised me on setting realistic and ambitious career goals, and provided strategies to achieve them, whether it's aiming for partnership or, in my case, transitioning to a role within my firm.

Is there an issue or development in the legal industry that you are particularly focused on and, if so, why?
One issue in the legal industry that I am particularly focused on is the integration and impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on legal practices. AI is revolutionizing the legal field, and its implications are profound and multifaceted. Focusing on AI in the legal industry is essential because it represents both an opportunity and a challenge. Embracing AI can lead to significant advancements in how legal services are delivered, but it also requires careful management to ensure ethical use and equitable access. By staying informed and proactive about AI developments, we can harness its potential to enhance our practice while addressing the associated risks and challenges responsibly.

What does effective leadership mean to you?
Effective leadership, to me, means inspiring and guiding a team towards achieving common goals while fostering an environment of trust, collaboration, and growth. It is also about balancing the drive for results with a genuine care for people, ensuring that the team thrives both individually and collectively.

Sylvia James, Vice-President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Winston & Strawn LLP

August 19, 2024

How did you get your start as a legal career professional?
After I graduated from law school, I spent 10 years as a Labor and Employment lawyer. The last five years of my law practice was in the Corporate Diversity Counseling Group at Holland & Knight, the only such practice group in the country at that time. I then went on to Baker Botts to serve as the firm's Diversity Counsel. I joined Winston & Strawn in 2017, after 11 years at Baker Botts.

How did you get involved with NALP?
I became involved in NALP in 2006. I served on several planning teams for the NALP/ALFDP Diversity & Inclusion Summit. I attended and spoke at several NALP conferences and events over the years but became a formal NALP member when I joined Winston.

What NALP resource, event or program has been beneficial for you and why?
By far, NALP's annual Report on Diversity is one of my go-to resources, always within reach on my desk. I've always used it to benchmark our performance compared to industry averages. I also like attending the Annual Education Conference because of the rich DEI programming and the opportunity to learn from my colleagues in talent functions.

If you have a mentor in the profession, how did that person help you achieve your career goals?
My mentor in my personal and professional life is my sister Rose James. She is the Global Senior Director, Intellectual Property at Expedia Group. She is my best friend, cheerleader, mentor, coach and partner in crime. Everything good I've accomplished in life has her stamp on it.

What book or podcast would you recommend to others?
I'm a huge Malcolm Gladwell fan, so I recommend his podcasts and all of his books. I feel like Blink and Outliers changed my life. They had a huge positive influence on my career. In my personal life, I recommend The Five Love Languages and The Four Agreements.

Is there a favorite quote that inspires you in your work?
Feel the fear and do it anyway. I have fears like everyone else, but I acknowledge the fear and push forward.

Is there an issue or development in the legal industry that you are focused on and, if so, why?
I'm particularly focused on the pushback against DEI initiatives happening in the courts, legislature, and court of public opinion because it directly impacts my work. I'm encouraged and hopeful about the future because my firm and many others have remained committed to advancing DEI.

Michael Ende, Vice-President for Finance
Associate Dean for Career Services, William & Mary Law School

July 29, 2024

What achievement are you most proud of in your career?
Over 17 years in law school career services, I've had the opportunity to work with thousands of students, and I am most proud of the personal and professional success they've achieved. The best reward is to work with a student from the day they arrive in law school and to watch them evolve and grow over time into exceptional people and professionals.

Second on the list is being voted by our students as the recipient of William & Mary's John Marshall Award for outstanding service to the law school community and for fidelity to the qualities of character, leadership, and selfless service.

Third, I'm very proud of the extent to which members of my team have become actively involved with NALP and taken on leadership roles within the association.

How did you get involved with NALP?
I owe my NALP involvement to Melissa Lennon. I was a member of the Judicial Clerkship Section, and the section was seeking a volunteer to work on the state court judicial clerkship guide. As someone who was still relatively junior in this profession, I volunteered with some reluctance, but Melissa encouraged and supported me and spurred my interest in becoming more involved. Then, through a series of fortunate occurrences, I was asked to serve as a member of the planning team for the 2014 PDI, and the rest is history.

If you have a mentor in the profession, how did that person help you achieve your career goals?
I know I'll forget someone but here goes. Diane Costigan was part of the search committee that hired me into my first job in law school career services, and without her initial support, I don't think I'd be where I am today. Melissa Lennon pushed me to get more involved with the Judicial Clerkship Section and has been a regular source of support. Molly Peckman and I served on two conference planning teams, and she became my champion when I thought about seeking leadership positions within NALP. And Lynn Herron and Jen Henfey both saw things in me that I didn't necessarily see in myself, and they became tremendous supporters as I sought out board positions.

Is there a favorite quote or motto that inspires you in your work?
"Be curious, not judgmental." —Ted Lasso

I have this quote posted on my office door, and I've tried to incorporate it into my career advising with students. I want them to be curious about the profession they are about to enter and the different paths they can take that will lead them to happiness and success. And I want them to avoid being judgmental about others and about opportunities — I want them to approach everything — their classmates, their faculty, the profession, the job search with an open mind.

Is there an issue or development in the legal industry that you are particularly focused on and, if so, why?
I am fascinated by AI and ChatGPT, and I am constantly exploring ways to incorporate AI into my daily routine and the work of my office to support our students.

How do you define professional success?
I tend to define professional success based on the success of my colleagues. I'm very proud of the extent to which members of my team — both at William & Mary and at my prior law school — have become actively involved as leaders within NALP. Watching their professional development and growth — and encouraging and enabling that development and growth — is incredibly rewarding.

Jessica Buchsbaum, NALP’s Vice-President for Member Services and Education
Chief Legal Talent Officer, Bilzin Sumberg LLP

July 8, 2024

How did you get involved with NALP?
My first conference was Chicago in 2005, and I was so overwhelmed! I connected with some newer professionals in my region, and I had an experienced professional as a mentor who encouraged me to become involved in NALP. I started by writing articles and joining sections and then I was on the conference planning team for the Puerto Rico conference in 2010.

If you have a mentor in the profession, how did that person help you achieve your career goals?
My professional mentor was Esther Rodriguez from Holland & Knight. She was always encouraging me to get involved as a way to gain knowledge and broaden my network to add value at my firm.

What book or podcast would you recommend to others?
Other than NALP Talk?!? I'm a big fan of Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History podcast — in particular, the episode "Project Dillard" examining the US News & World Report rankings and how their criteria impact HBCU rankings. It would be fascinating for our members and would be fun for them to hear the genesis of the idea to have the Dillard Choir perform at our DEI reception in New Orleans.

Is there a favorite quote or motto that inspires you in your work?
If you're too big to do the small stuff, you're too small to do the big stuff.

Is there an issue or development in the legal industry that you are particularly focused on and, if so, why?
Maintaining and broadening the pipeline of diverse attorneys into the profession. It's something I've been working on for over a decade through my involvement in bringing the NALP/Streetlaw Diversity Pipeline Program to Bilzin Sumberg and running the program for the past 12 years.

What does effective leadership mean to you?
Building consensus, organizational altruism, and developing the next generation of leaders.