Posts Categorized: Voices of the Bar

Voices of the Bar 9/29/16: Choate Colleagues Help Us Get to Know Chief Justice Marshall

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The Boston Bar Association is very pleased to announce that Hon. Margaret H. Marshall, former Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, will be honored at the Boston Bar Foundation 2017 John & Abigail Adams Benefit.

A quick internet search or conversation with someone who has been practicing in the legal field in Massachusetts for long enough will provide a laundry list of her many accomplishments. Chief Justice Marshall was the first female Chief Justice of the Massachusetts SJC, and during her 11 years in the position, she gained a national reputation for both her landmark decisions and her reforms of the Massachusetts court system.

Chief Justice Marshall rejoined Choate, Hall & Stewart in 2012 after her retirement from the bench. For this week’s Voices of the Bar, we asked some of her colleagues at Choate to share a little bit about their personal experiences with her.

“How has working with Chief Justice Marshall impacted you personally or professionally?”

Diana LLoyd – Choate, Hall & Stewart
“I met Chief Justice Marshall when she interviewed me for a lateral associate position at Choate, Hall in 1992.  I was immediately taken with the Chief’s warmth, obvious brilliance and impressive success as a litigation partner at a major law firm.  At the time, few women had achieved that type of success.  In my first months at Choate, I came to learn about the Chief’s background fighting apartheid in South Africa, and her remarkable achievements in this country.  I also marveled, though, at the Chief’s focus on the personal side of those she met.  She learned and cared about the details of people’s lives – their spouses, their children, their concerns.  Many people now link the Chief, first and foremost, to her courageous and ground-breaking decision on same-sex marriage in Goodridge.  However, if you ask the Chief whether she views Goodridge as her most important decision, she will tell you that is not the way to look at it – that for all litigants who come to a court seeking justice, their own case is most important to them and deserves equal attention and consideration.  To me, that sentiment encapsulates the Chief  – a person who cares for the people in our system as well as the principles and a lifelong crusader for justice for all.”

Melissa Bayer Tearney – Choate, Hall & Stewart
“As President of the Board of Directors of Greater Boston Legal Services, I know I speak for the entire organization in expressing our gratitude to Chief Justice Marshall. She has been an avid supporter of social justice throughout her life, and she has made extraordinary efforts to help ensure that legal representation is available to all, regardless of an ability to pay. Her commitment is unwavering, and she is a true leader in this effort.”

John Nadas – Choate, Hall & Stewart
“It’s hard to know where to begin, as Chief Justice Marshall has influenced so many of us in so many ways, both professionally and personally, over the span of her extraordinary career. I want to emphasize one of her unusual personal qualities. Every day she demonstrates to us the importance of trying to make day-to-day connections with people, including strangers. When you walk with the Chief you’re well advised to set aside extra time to get to your destination because she often  stops to talk with people, whether she knows them or not. It’s not superficial. She does so out of genuine interest in, and caring for, people. To an unusual degree, she wants to see, connect, and get to know everyone. It is a reflection of her warmth, kindness and curiosity which, given her stature in the community, has a particularly profound and meaningful impact on others. ”

Jack Cinquegrana – Choate, Hall & Stewart
“When I learned that I would have the opportunity to serve as the Boston Bar Association’s President, the first person I called was Chief Justice Marshall.  She took most of a morning out of her busy schedule to meet with me, over breakfast on a rainy day in Harvard Square.  I recall our meeting quite well, because the more she spoke about the BBA, the greater my ambition for what the organization could accomplish.  I am sure The Chief has been an inspiration to every BBA President through her example of leadership, and I want to express my personal thanks for the wise counsel she has given me over the years, beginning on that rainy morning.”

If you would like to respond to a future Voices of the Bar, make sure you send a headshot, and contact Lauren DiTullio at lditullio@bostonbar.org.

Voices of the Bar 9/22/16: What Is the Most Unique Way a New Client Has Heard About You?

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In the coming weeks, the BBA will host several programs where experts will discuss marketing strategies and resources for attorneys. In the 21st century, it’s increasingly within reach for lawyers to build their own brand. However, there is always the old adage that word of mouth represents the best form of advertising  – and we think there’s something to be said for that, too.

For this week’s “Voices of the Bar” column, we’re reaching out to ask:

“What is the most unique way a new client has heard about your practice?“

Jacquelyn Redmond – J. Redmond Law PC
“I represent clients in their home purchase and sales. I had a client who owned his own hair salon. He was chatting with one of his customers while cutting their hair. The topic turned to home buying. My client told his customer about me and recommended me. I ended up helping my client’s customer buy his first home the next month. It is so rewarding to be referred by past clients and fun when the connection comes about in unexpected ways.”

Gayle Stone-Turesky – Stone, Stone & Creem
“My mother, Ida Stone, graduated law school in the 30’s when there were five women in her class.  She started our practice with my father, Jacob.  Our firm concentrates in family law and my mother would often network at the supermarket and the bakery.  It was not unusual for a client to call for a consultation and tell us that they met a woman lawyer at the bakery who recommended our firm.   I don’t believe that my mother realized it at the time but she was developing the “old girls” network.”

Jamy Buchanan Madeja – Buchanan & Associates
“Twenty years ago, diving for abalone in the Pacific Ocean, I nearly drowned and, incongruously, discussed my environmental law practice back in Massachusetts with my rescuer on the flailing swim back.  Still a client and close friend.”

Kristen Scammon – Torres, Scammon, Hincks & Day
“The vast majority of my new clients are referred to me by other attorneys, many of whom I have known since law school (20 years ago).  While this is a fairly traditional path to obtaining clients, I can safely say that my law school classmates who refer clients to me are definitely unique and interesting!”

Ellen Kief – Law Office of Ellen S. Kief
“I was on a bicycle trip crossing with a team of riders round-trip from US to Canada. Some folks had questions about passports and entry. Speaking French to the officer at the crossing, no one understood what was going on, and we had a fun time of it. Folks soon realized I practice U.S. immigration law and asked for my contact information. Thankfully, no immigration work was necessary at that time, but I did get some referrals!”

Zoe Zhang-Louie – Zhang-Louie Immigration Counsel
“The most interesting way that I made a connection was through LinkedIn. I have in my short introduction under my profile picture that I am a Business Immigration Attorney. I was going through adding almost everyone that came up as suggested connections. Recently, an international business owner, with whom I connected through this method, actually sent a message to me. Though this has not yet resulted in paying clients, I am optimistic that it will in the future.”

If you would like to respond to a future Voices of the Bar, make sure you send a headshot, and contact Lauren DiTullio at lditullio@bostonbar.org.

Voices of the Bar 9/15/16: What Do You Wish You Had Known in Law School?

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A program we enjoyed presenting this week was“What I Wish I’d Known in Law School,” and it was just what it sounds like. As our law student members get back into the swing of the school year, we wanted to hear from some of our more seasoned members about what they wish they’d known as they worked hard studying the law. Our panel was not the only place to sound off!

For this week’s “Voices of the Bar” column, we reached out to ask:

“What do you wish you had known in law school?”

Lauren Corbett – Beck Reed Riden
“Practical skills are much more valuable as a new lawyer than theories and cases. Take advantage of every opportunity to get hands-on experience, whether its through an internship, clinic, or coursework. This will have the double advantage of preparing you for practice and growing your network. ”

Meredith Hiller – Holland & Knight
“I wish I had known in law school that it’s hard to know exactly what you want to do until you’ve tried some different things.  I wish I’d also known how important I find it to have a job that is interesting and that constantly allows me to learn.”

Valerie Moore – Ferriter Scobbo & Rodophele
“I wish I had known the importance of starting to build my network early and had acted on it. There are many opportunities available to law students to network with the Boston legal community and I wish I had taken more advantage of them while in school.

Joel Reck – The Mediation Group
“As a young guy who is about to participate in his 50th law school reunion next month, I have mixed positive and negative memories of my law school experience.  I never loved it.  I wish that I had known how much I would come to love our profession and the doors that it would open to participate in our society in a variety of ways.  My head was too much in books and classes.  I did not think enough about how the law could provide a platform for giving back, which would, in turn, provide a profound sense of professional and personal fulfillment.”

If you would like to respond to a future Voices of the Bar, make sure you send a headshot, and contact Lauren DiTullio at lditullio@bostonbar.org.

Voices of the Bar 8/11/16: What is the Highlight of Having a Summer Jobs Student in the Office?

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It’s hard to believe our Summer Jobs students are already most of the way through their summer employment experiences.

Next week, we will host a celebration to commemorate their contributions to the law offices and legal services organizations over the course of the summer. But in the meantime, we wanted to see what their employers think.

For this week’s “Voices of the Bar” column, we reached out to some of this summer’s employers to ask:

” What is the highlight of Having a Summer Jobs student in your office?”

J.D. Smeallie – Holland & Knight
“I would have to say his intellectual curiosity and initiative. Ben Tayag from Boston Latin attended a hearing with me on a major motion. At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge asked counsel to submit post-hearing briefs. The next morning, I got an email from Ben. Without any instruction or prompting, he had found a very recent case right on point on the key issue. Needless to say, we were all very impressed. An offer to return next summer as an equity partner is in the works!”

Sharon Armour – Massachusetts Law Reform Institute 
“It’s nice seeing the interest that the kids come in and have. I like being able to make connections between the work we are doing and the things that interest them.”

 

Sean Nehill – Boston Redevelopment Authority
It has been an absolute pleasure working with our Boston Bar Association Summer Jobs Program intern, Sherley Muscade.  The energy, diligence, and humor that she brings to the office every single day has been a highlight of the summer.  We have been lucky to have such a superstar in the Office of General Counsel, and we are excited to see what is next for her.

If you would like to respond to a future Voices of the Bar, make sure you send a headshot, and contact Lauren DiTullio at lditullio@bostonbar.org.

The Most Interesting Lawyer of the Week: Posternak’s Rosanna Sattler

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Sattler_RosannaRosanna Sattler knew from the time that she was eight years old that she was passionately interested in outer space. But unlike other children her age, her dream was never to hop aboard a spacecraft.

“I never thought that I could be an astronaut,” she said. “Later in life, I decided that I wanted to try to merge my passion with my abilities as a lawyer. I wanted to see if I could move the needle a little bit on issues concerning the industry.”

That “industry” was in its infancy in 1997, when Sattler decided to apply her expertise in commercial litigation, insurance law and risk management to the final frontier. Commercial space flights were a dream just barely beginning to come to fruition, and Sattler was involved in lobbying efforts to ensure that NASA was not the primary entity involved in space travel.

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“I was not really terribly interested in the mature industry of satellites or communications, I was more interested in what private entrepreneurs and companies were doing. Sometimes that involves working with NASA, but I was not necessarily interested in what the government itself was doing. To me, it has always been about recognizing that space is a place and not a government program,” she said.

And just like other places, there are laws that govern space. An outer space treaty signed by 88 nations, most of which have never launched a spacecraft, is the primary document that outlines what is or is not permissible once people and objects are launched into space from the Earth. It states that each nation is responsible for space activities and objects that originated there, regardless of whether a government or a private company initiated it.

But increasingly complex innovations give rise to new legal questions.

“I am very interested in space law policy. I have done a lot of work regarding property rights in space – not intellectual property, but actual property rights. If we land on the moon, or land on Mars, or lasso an asteroid to have it orbit the moon, how can we do that? What are the laws? These types of activities do not have to be dealt with here on Earth. However, most property rights on Earth are subject to a mature, legal regime, “she said.

At Posternak, Blankstein & Lund, where Sattler is a partner and Executive Committee Member, the Space Law Department also represents clients in cases more typically associated with business – insurance, employment matters and contract disputes, to name a few.

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During Sattler’s career, she has represented companies working to improve the propulsion mechanisms for satellites and building spaceports (like an airport, she explains, but for space travel). She has counseled a spacesuit manufacturing company on liability and insurance issues.  She is the Chair of the Board of Directors for the CompTIA Space Enterprise Council in Washington, D.C. CompTIA is a non-profit trade association, the goal of which is to advance the interests of Information Technology professionals. The Space Enterprise Council was founded in 2000 to represent businesses with an interest in commercial, civil and national security space.

“We have gone from these conceptual ideas that traditional aerospace professionals never thought were going to happen, to an industry where SpaceX is flying a commercial vehicle in lieu of the space shuttle to the International Space Station,” she said. “What goes along with that are a lot of issues that have never been legally tested before because we have never had an occasion.”

Currently, she said, companies are conducting medical and scientific research on the space station which is an international laboratory.  Other private ventures have launched objects in space to search for water on asteroids, in hopes that they could convert them into hydrogen fuel stations. If vessels could refuel in space, she explains, they could travel much farther out. Another company is working on developing an inflatable structure that could eventually be inhabited by people.

“I think we need to explore farther out into the solar system and beyond. I guess it is manifest destiny,” she said.

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Voices of the Bar 7/14/16: How Has the Public Interest Leadership Program Impacted You?

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June was a big month for the Boston Bar Association’s Public Interest Leadership Program (PILP).  on Tuesday, June 28th, the PILP 2015-16 (PILP 12) Class hosted The Boston Bar Association’s Juvenile Restorative Justice Symposium.

Earlier in the month, on Wednesday, June 22nd, an orientation was held for the newest PILP Class (PILP 13).  Spearheaded by the PILP 12 Class, a gathering of many of the 153 program alumni took place immediately following the orientation.

For this week’s “Voices of the Bar” column, we reached out to PILP alumni to ask:

“How has PILP impacted you?”

Christopher Saccardi – The Law Office of Christopher T. Saccardi
“I found my participation in PILP to be very rewarding, both personally and professionally. I enjoyed working closely with a diverse group of attorneys whom I would likely not otherwise have gotten to know. I am still in touch with many members of my former PILP class and find them to be good friends, helpful for discussing legal questions, and a value source of referrals. I also learned a lot about the BBA as a PILPer and have found its resources and staff to be very helpful to me in my own practice. Finally, I very much enjoyed the sessions we had with leaders of the Boston legal community, such as Chief Justice Gants and Attorney General Healey.”

Katherine Fick – IBM
“Being connected with a group of young lawyers who shared an interest in public service in the early days of my career was pivotal, as was learning from the more established lawyers we met with. It encouraged a broader perspective on what’s possible, and that has led to unexpected places. (By way of example, I [participated in] a training exercise in a remote part of Texas . . . in connection with ShelterBox, a disaster relief nonprofit I volunteer with. Heading to, e.g., Africa and South America to help with flood relief was not something I would have predicted ten years ago, but PILP helped encourage the unpredictable.)”

David McGowan – Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office 
“I appreciated forming lasting relationships with other attorneys who were committed to their fields of expertise, but also committed  to serving the broader community in ways both large and small.”

Katherine Schulte – Casa Myrna
“PILP has been all about making connections. It was my first real inroad into the BBA community, which has led to many rewarding opportunities. But I’m also really grateful for the relationships I made with my PILP 10 classmates. They are bright, compassionate, ambitious, and really fun people who I continue to see in both professional and personal circles. I am fortunate to have made those connections through PILP.”

Julia Devanthéry – Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School
“I continue to work on the Community Reentry Readiness education program that my PILP class established with the District Court of Massachusetts. The program provides know-your-rights civil legal trainings to individuals leaving incarceration to support their community reentry. The program is now in its third year and has provided empowering information and resources to hundreds of people facing many difficult challenges in finding housing, obtaining subsistence income, seeking employment, restoring their driver’s license, managing child support obligations and debt. Participating in this program has been so fulfilling for me. It has allowed me to stay in touch with some of my PILP classmates, and connect with other BBA members who are interested in criminal justice reform movements.”

If you would like to respond to a future Voices of the Bar, make sure you send a headshot, and contact Lauren DiTullio at lditullio@bostonbar.org.

Voices of the Bar 6/30/16: What Are Your Fourth of July Plans?

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The 4th of July is a big deal in Boston, with the Pops concert, fireworks display, and rich history of the city. But for all those who flock here to partake in Boston’s traditions, there are many traveling to Cape Cod, Rhode Island and other, far-flung locations this long weekend to celebrate our nation’s independence.

For this week’s “Voices of the Bar” column, we’re reaching out to ask:

“What are your plans for the 4th of July?”

Jonathan Elder – Hinckley Allen
“I still work in Boston, but my family and I left the city 5 years ago for the serenity (and square footage) of the North Shore.  We’re looking forward to celebrating this 4th like we did the last:  with friends on Crane’s Beach.  Our town, Ipswich, also has a great parade, which our kids love.  Ipswich is the “Birthplace of Independence” (and fried clams), so I’m sure the Founders would approve.”

Laurie Bishop – Hirsch Roberts Weinstein
“My wife and I will be in Deerfield, MA with our two dogs and two horses, visiting my best friend from law school. My friend and I are both expecting and looking forward to the new additions very soon. Fingers crossed for no surprise July 4 arrivals. ”

Andrew Glass – K & L Gates
“My family and I always have fun at the July 4th festivities in Lincoln, Massachusetts.  Lincoln’s festivities help celebrate the spirit of community along with our nation’s independence and include a parade––where the members of the volunteer town government poke (gentle) fun at themselves––followed by a town cookout with live music and fireworks.  It’s a day for remembering that we can achieve great ends when we all pull together and that a sense of humor is a good thing!”

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Adam Eckart – Ropes & Gray
“My family and I will be celebrating the 4th of July on Cape Cod. We love the Cape because we enjoy the beaches, seeing family and friends, and relaxing away from the city. My kids, twins who are just over 1 year old, will be enjoying the sand and the water, and will be working on their sand castle sculpting with the help of their uncles and grandparents. We hope everyone has a fun, happy and safe 4th of July!”

Eugene Ho – Verrill Dana
“I’ll be spending the 4th with my family and friends, indulging in as many hot dogs and hamburgers as my stomach can handle.  I’ll probably grab a few pies from my favorite bakery to “share”.”

Michael Vhay – Ferriter Scobbo & Rodophele
“I’m heading to Maine, which separated from Massachusetts in 1820.  Mainers voted several times to leave Massachusetts before we agreed to let Maine go – there was no “Brexit” for the Pine Tree State.   But I’m happy to be going to a place that can celebrate two Independence Days.”

Christopher Liedl – Ropes & Gray
“Headed home to northern Minnesota for a few days on Whitefish Lake with my family. Looking forward to some butterburgers, frozen custard, small-town parades, and beach volleyball while spending time with my adorable niece and nephew!”

 

If you would like to respond to a future Voices of the Bar, make sure you send a headshot, and contact Lauren DiTullio at lditullio@bostonbar.org.

Voices of the Bar 6/23/16: What is Your Favorite Vacation Spot in the Summer?

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It’s summer time and the livin’ is easy. After a chilly spring that made winter seem even longer, we are all more than ready to break the beach chairs out of the basement and soak up some rays.

For this week’s “Voices of the Bar” column, we’re reaching out to ask:

“What is your favorite summer vacation spot?”

Chesley Davis – Peabody & Arnold
“I have two: Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina – for swimming and paddle boarding in warm ocean waters and go-karting with my family, which has been going there for more than 40 years. The other is Tenants Harbor, Maine – for the peace and quiet and eating lots of lobster, of course!”

Dana Zakarian – Nystrom Beckman & Paris
“Old Silver Beach in Falmouth, Massachusetts.”

 

Richard Jones – Sullivan & Worcester
“Our family loves Nantucket. We ditch the car entirely for the week and bike to a different, beautiful beach each day from a mid-island rental (which will have reliable Internet access for work connectivity, sadly a prerequisite).  When not at the beach we frequent the seaside restaurants, Bartlett’s Farm, and the Cisco Brewery.  Despite Nantucket’s popularity, it is still easy to find stretches of empty beach where you can watch the seals pop up from the waves to watch you.”

Stacey Friends – Ruberto, Israel & Weiner
“My own town, Manchester-by-the-Sea.”

 

Claudia Centomini – Prince Lobel
“I spend my weekends during the summer in Vermont.  We have a farm near Woodstock, Vermont where I can horseback ride and go hiking.”

 

Hon. Margaret Marshall (Ret.) – Former Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice; Choate, Hall & Stewart
“Anywhere in the triangle of Sienna, Urbino and Orvieto in Italy.  Every year that I was on the Supreme Judicial Court, my husband and I spent three weeks in August somewhere in that magical region.  It was personally and professionally restorative, year after year.  It still is.”

If you would like to respond to a future Voices of the Bar, make sure you send a headshot, and contact Lauren DiTullio at lditullio@bostonbar.org.

Voices of the Bar 6/16/16: What Was the Highlight of Serving as a Section Co-chair?

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As an exceedingly productive program year comes to a close, we always look for opportunities to thank and acknowledge the volunteers that are responsible for organizing our CLE programs, brown bags, pro bono training sessions and many other aspects of the diverse catalog of activities we are proud to offer our members.

With some of the co-chairs of our 24 sections wrapping up their terms, we wanted to give them a chance to tell us what they most enjoyed about the time they dedicated to the BBA over the past two years.

For this week’s “Voices of the Bar” column, we reached out to ask:

“What was the highlight of your time as a BBA Section Co-Chair?

Ian Roffman – Nutter, McClennen & Fish
“The highlights of my time as co-chair of the BBA’s Financial Services Section have been the opportunities to get together regularly with a great group of experienced attorneys from private practice (plaintiff and defense), in-house, and government.  At our section meetings, programming, and social events, this group, who are often professional adversaries, have been able to talk and to know each other in a more relaxed and collegial environment. ”

Adam Ruttenberg – Posternak Blankstein & Lund
“The highlight of my two years as Bankruptcy Section co-chair was May 14, 2015, when I presided over the 25th annual Bankruptcy Bench Meets Bar Conference.  In addition to the usual gathering of essentially the entire eastern Massachusetts bankruptcy bar to be educated by all of the bankruptcy judges in Massachusetts, we were honored by the presence of retired bankruptcy judge James F. Queenan Jr., who was on the bench from 1986 to 2000, and we were able to honor the soon to be retired judge William C. Hillman with the Charles Normandin Lifetime Achievement Award.  We were also able to distribute a commemorative book for the occasion, 65 pages of photos and reminiscences, the product of months of work with the bench, bar, and BBA.  I still enjoy taking that book off my shelf and thumbing down memory lane.”

Mary Chaffin – Accion
“Two highlights for me, if I may. The first was the opportunity to attend the annual BBA leadership conference in Chatham, where I was able to get to know so many interesting members of the organization and the wonderful BBA staff.  The second is the chance to learn, through the programs of the International Section, about the many activities that touch upon an international practice that lawyers in Boston engage in.”

If you would like to respond to a future Voices of the Bar, make sure you send a headshot, and contact Lauren DiTullio at lditullio@bostonbar.org.

Voices of the Bar 6/9/2016: What Was Your First Summer Job?

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Soon, we will kick off the BBA’s Summer Jobs Program, an important initiative that we very much look forward to each year. In our program, teenagers have the opportunity to learn professional skills that will benefit them in their career later on.

No matter the job, a summer job can be a crucial part of a teenager’s life. During their summer employment, students learn responsibility and build professional skills, while making some money to help support themselves and their families.

For this week’s “Voices of the Bar” column, we’re reaching out members and our own staff to ask:

“What was your first summer job?“

Kanasha Herbert – Mintz Levin
“I grew up in the U.S. Virgin Islands and tourism is the main industry there. My first summer job involved me playing in a steelpan group for tourists. We were set up in the back of a large truck and would go to the various tourist locales to play our music which ranged from soca and jazz to classical music. On our way back from playing at the tourist spots we would also drive into various community housing areas and play music for the residents.  Most memorable were the kids who would run out from their homes to follow us in an impromptu jam session as we made our way through their neighborhoods. The group was a subset of a larger steel band that I was a part of called The Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra which was created by the then Presiding Judge of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, Judge Verne A. Hodge,  in an effort to keep kids culturally engaged and enrolled in secondary school in order to reduce the incidence of juvenile delinquency in the territory.  The program is a large part of why I became interested in practicing law.”

Christopher Strang – Strang, Scott, Giroux & Young
“My first summer job was making ice cream sundaes at Friendly’s. It’s one of the few jobs where making mistakes could be quite rewarding. No reason to let those errant brownie sundaes go to waste!”

 

Jonathan Schreiber – Boston Bar Association
“I was an art apprentice at Neighborhood Studios in Hartford, Connecticut when I was 15.  It was an amazing and memorable summer.  I had the opportunity to learn from local artists and meet a diverse group of students from the city and surrounding suburbs.  I was most proud to have worked on a mural celebrating the arts that is still on display in a park downtown.”

Kerry Crisley – Boston Bar Association
“My very first summer job was waitressing at a Friendly’s Restaurant. One night, two of my customers were lamenting all the calories they were about to consume in ice cream. I told them that we had a special machine in the back that vacuumed all the calories out, and one of them actually said “Really?!?”

Nicole Roth – Boston Bar Association
“My first summer job was working at a swim club as a receptionist. I made minimum wage and often got assigned tasks that were unrelated to my job. One day my boss handed me a can of bear spray and told me it was my job to keep away all the wildlife. I was supposed to get close to the bear and spray its eyes. You don’t find excitement like that very often in an office.”

If you would like to respond to a future Voices of the Bar, make sure you send a headshot, and contact Lauren DiTullio at lditullio@bostonbar.org.