I'll go first -

Constance Baker Motley

First African American female lawyer appointed to the federal judiciary.

Columbia Law School Grad, '46

Civil Rights activist who represented MLK

NY State Senator

All around bad-ass

5

44 comments

  • Saturday, Jun 23 2018

    Bill Clinton.

    0
  • Saturday, Jun 23 2018

    Chief Justice John Roberts is a phenomenal legal mind.

    0
  • Saturday, Jun 23 2018

    @davidlee0221291 said:

    Also Neil Gorsuch

    And Judge Jeanine Pirro :) Recently went to a conference and heard her story. Amazing background!

    1
  • Friday, Jun 22 2018

    The Notorious RBG!! She is goals!!

    3
  • Friday, Jun 22 2018

    @jchamberlainf946 He went to a school that uses library square footage in its rankings. That kind of says it all...

    1
  • Friday, Jun 22 2018

    @jchamberlainf946 said:

    Inspiration: Lincoln. Self motivated, self educated, but genuinely seemed to love helping people. He supposedly had a knack for simplifying complex issues into ways people could better understand.

    Bad inspiration: Michael Cohen. If that man can become a lawyer, I sure as hell can. I'm not even in law school, and I know that I should probably double check a contract and get the client to sign it if he needs to, especially if the language mandates that he really should. Gives me hope that I can't possibly be that bad.

    I have also had some good discussions with lawyers on their views. For a while, I couldn't wrap my head around the idea of defending people who did heinous crimes, especially appeals. Why? Why would any decent person want to do that? One explained to me that he is not defending them, but he is defending the rule of law, and the rule of all applies to everyone. If we allow the rule of law to slide for the least of us, then what will it mean for the rest? And that made a lot of sense to me.

    lol @ Michael Cohen.

    0
  • Friday, Jun 22 2018

    @xadrianas6x881 said:

    @lindajanealang756 said:

    I'm inspired by the defense attorneys (public defenders included) throughout America whose names we all might not know but who are standing between the state and the individual. I've been watching "The Staircase" and leaving aside thoughts on Mr. Peterson's guilt or innocence, the actions of the state in that case are nothing short of astonishing. Shout-out to all the defense attorneys that take on the state each and every day in America, you inspire me.

    This. For those wondering how PDs can do their job, I really recommend buying one a cup of coffee and talking to them about their job. I did it and its very enlightening about the realities of our justice system.

    plus whatever number we are at for the book "Just Mercy", Bryan Stevenson.

    I'll add Matt Murdock to the list.

    +1 Bryan Stevenson. He's so very inspiring. Ditto the PD conversation - I've done the same and agree it's super enlightening.

    1
  • Friday, Jun 22 2018

    Yeah, definitely Matt Murdock.

    1
  • Friday, Jun 22 2018

    Phoenix Wright - The greatest defense attorney ever!

    0
  • Thursday, Jun 21 2018

    @jchamberlainf946 said:

    Bad inspiration: Michael Cohen. If that man can become a lawyer, I sure as hell can. I'm not even in law school, and I know that I should probably double check a contract and get the client to sign it if he needs to, especially if the language mandates that he really should. Gives me hope that I can't possibly be that bad.

    LOL! It's kind of nice going into a field already knowing that there's someone worse than you (and you haven't even started yet!). sort of gives you the freedom to relax a tiny bit. (I have the chant "There's someone worse than us! There's someone worse than us!" from an old Roseanne episode playing in my head...)

    3
  • Thursday, Jun 21 2018

    @lindajanealang756 said:

    I'm inspired by the defense attorneys (public defenders included) throughout America whose names we all might not know but who are standing between the state and the individual. I've been watching "The Staircase" and leaving aside thoughts on Mr. Peterson's guilt or innocence, the actions of the state in that case are nothing short of astonishing. Shout-out to all the defense attorneys that take on the state each and every day in America, you inspire me.

    This. For those wondering how PDs can do their job, I really recommend buying one a cup of coffee and talking to them about their job. I did it and its very enlightening about the realities of our justice system.

    plus whatever number we are at for the book "Just Mercy", Bryan Stevenson.

    I'll add Matt Murdock to the list.

    6
  • Thursday, Jun 21 2018

    Jessica Pearson

    0
  • Thursday, Jun 21 2018

    Edward Greenberg.

    0
  • Thursday, Jun 21 2018

    @shaw5563 said:

    @jchamberlainf946 said:

    I have also had some good discussions with lawyers on their views. For a while, I couldn't wrap my head around the idea of defending people who did heinous crimes, especially appeals. Why? Why would any decent person want to do that? One explained to me that he is not defending them, but he is defending the rule of law, and the rule of all applies to everyone. If we allow the rule of law to slide for the least of us, then what will it mean for the rest? And that made a lot of sense to me.

    Wow amazing, I love that. That's something I have been struggling with. Thank you for sharing!!

    @jchamberlainf946 Agree with @shaw5563 - I've had a hard time understanding how people would want to be defense attorneys but I appreciate you shedding some light on why they do it. Very helpful. I always tell myself that, even for the worst of crimes, everyone is entitled to a defense (hard to swallow sometimes though!).

    0
  • Thursday, Jun 21 2018

    Real: Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Hillary Clinton

    Fictional: Olivia Pope and Jessica Pearson

    2
  • Thursday, Jun 21 2018

    Real life: Ruth Ginsburg. Fiction: Atticus Finch.

    2
  • Thursday, Jun 21 2018

    @lindajanealang756 said:

    I'm inspired by the defense attorneys (public defenders included) throughout America whose names we all might not know but who are standing between the state and the individual. I've been watching "The Staircase" and leaving aside thoughts on Mr. Peterson's guilt or innocence, the actions of the state in that case are nothing short of astonishing. Shout-out to all the defense attorneys that take on the state each and every day in America, you inspire me.

    You would love "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

    1
  • Thursday, Jun 21 2018

    Shirin Ebadi; Noble peace prize winner.

    0
  • Thursday, Jun 21 2018

    @jchamberlainf946 said:

    I have also had some good discussions with lawyers on their views. For a while, I couldn't wrap my head around the idea of defending people who did heinous crimes, especially appeals. Why? Why would any decent person want to do that? One explained to me that he is not defending them, but he is defending the rule of law, and the rule of all applies to everyone. If we allow the rule of law to slide for the least of us, then what will it mean for the rest? And that made a lot of sense to me.

    Wow amazing, I love that. That's something I have been struggling with. Thank you for sharing!!

    0
  • Thursday, Jun 21 2018

    Travis Williams

    0
  • Wednesday, Jun 20 2018

    Inspiration: Lincoln. Self motivated, self educated, but genuinely seemed to love helping people. He supposedly had a knack for simplifying complex issues into ways people could better understand.

    Bad inspiration: Michael Cohen. If that man can become a lawyer, I sure as hell can. I'm not even in law school, and I know that I should probably double check a contract and get the client to sign it if he needs to, especially if the language mandates that he really should. Gives me hope that I can't possibly be that bad.

    I have also had some good discussions with lawyers on their views. For a while, I couldn't wrap my head around the idea of defending people who did heinous crimes, especially appeals. Why? Why would any decent person want to do that? One explained to me that he is not defending them, but he is defending the rule of law, and the rule of all applies to everyone. If we allow the rule of law to slide for the least of us, then what will it mean for the rest? And that made a lot of sense to me.

    5
  • Wednesday, Jun 20 2018

    I (3 Ruth Bader Ginsburg(/p)

    3
  • Wednesday, Jun 20 2018

    Bryan Stevenson--Just Mercy.

    1
  • Wednesday, Jun 20 2018

    @lindajanealang756 said:

    I'm inspired by the defense attorneys (public defenders included) throughout America whose names we all might not know but who are standing between the state and the individual. I've been watching "The Staircase" and leaving aside thoughts on Mr. Peterson's guilt or innocence, the actions of the state in that case are nothing short of astonishing. Shout-out to all the defense attorneys that take on the state each and every day in America, you inspire me.

    YES. The staircase has been fascinating to watch. It inspires me to become a defense attorney. One of the things that I really liked was when his lawyer said it isn't innocent or guilty; it's guilty or not guilty. I am motivated to ensure a person has a fair trial, regardless of guilt.

    If you like The Staircase, you should watch The Confession Tapes. It's also on Netflix and it's about people who are coerced into giving false confessions, which unfortunately often lead to convictions. It lights a fire under my butt to defend kids and be that layer between "the system" and the individual.

    1
  • Wednesday, Jun 20 2018

    I'm inspired by the defense attorneys (public defenders included) throughout America whose names we all might not know but who are standing between the state and the individual. I've been watching "The Staircase" and leaving aside thoughts on Mr. Peterson's guilt or innocence, the actions of the state in that case are nothing short of astonishing. Shout-out to all the defense attorneys that take on the state each and every day in America, you inspire me.

    5

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