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1. Women have made significant strides in the legal field over the years. Can you share a specific achievement or milestone in your career that you are particularly proud of. 

Ashely Stitzer: Years ago, I made the decision to change my long- term primary practice area from corporate bankruptcy to family law. While I am grateful for the opportunities in the corporate bankruptcy field, making the choice to switch to family law has allowed me to fulfill many of my personal and professional ambitions. Having the ability to help women and families work through some of their most challenging and emotional times has been extremely satisfying and rewarding on multiple levels. The ability to pivot professionally and not be pigeonholed is a privilege women in the workforce have not always been provided. The fact that I was able to do so seamlessly is a testament to the progression women continue to make in the legal community.

Jaycie DiNardo: I am just getting started in my career. My most important milestone to date has been passing the Delaware Bar on the first time. While this milestone may seem rather insignificant to many, as tons of women have passed the bar, it is my most valued achievement at this point because of context in which I passed. In March 2020, just about halfway through my first year of law school, the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world and all schools were converted to online for the next year and a half. That meant that half of my law school experience was entirely virtual. Despite this difficult learning environment, I graduated in May 2022. However, I was worried that given the novelty of such a learning environment I may not be appropriately prepared to take the Delaware Bar – one of the more difficult bar examinations in the country. Additionally, the summer before my last year of law school, my father was diagnosed with brain cancer and was undergoing various treatments which were not successful. As the July 2022 bar exam approached, I studied throughout that summer all while also trying to find time to spend with my father knowing he may not have a lot of time left. After taking the test, I had convinced myself that I didn’t pass and worried that my father would not be around to see me pass the bar – a goal I have dreamed of since I was a child. In early October 2022, I finally got my bar results back and found that I had passed and I was so relieved that I could tell my dad I did it.

Again, I understand that passing the bar is not a unique or wildly impressive achievement —  hundreds of thousands of women have passed the bar and become attorneys. I am proud of my achievement because despite the misfortune that had come my way, I continued to persevere and work hard to achieve my goals. I believe that my perseverance and dedication to achieving my goals contributes to the legacy of women in the law because if it wasn’t for the perseverance, hard-work, dedication and resilience of all the women who paved the way in the face of adversity, discrimination, doubt, and misfortune, there wouldn’t be women in law today.

2. Work-life balance is a common concern for many professionals. How do you navigate and negotiate your priorities to ensure you meet both your professional and personal commitments?

Lindsay Dunn: One of the greatest fallacies of the late 20th and early 21st century cultures, is that women capably can be all things, to everyone for whom they are responsible, all the time. If this is a time for honesty, in our culture, if you are a woman, and a professional, and a mother, you accept a great burden. In my own life, I have to coordinate my schedule and resources with my firm, the judges of various courts, opposing counsel, clients, my children, their teachers, coaches, room mothers, team mothers, doctors, orthodontists & dentists, and [the list goes on] – not to mention my own parents, siblings, etc.  I’ve found that that you inevitably disappoint people, but it is important  always to put family first, and to surround yourself with friends who love you and care about you no matter how much time you have at present to share – the ones who are always there, and when you see each other, you pick up right where you left off.

Carolina Heinle: Work-life balance requires the ability to prioritize and to say ‘no’ sometimes.  It also helps if you have a community of people that you can call upon for help – but you have to first be comfortable asking for help, which was hard for me to do.

Ashely Stitzer: Juggling the demands of family, work, and clients is difficult for everyone, especially in today’s world. I am of the opinion, however, that it is possible to have it all including a successful family life and career.  

The demands are ongoing and it is not always easy, but I have found that adjusting the manner in which I coordinate work and personal demands has brought me the greatest success when navigating the balancing act.  I learned to be flexible in how I manage work demands to ensure that I am still available for home life responsibilities. Versatility in when I complete my work has allowed me to ensure that I am also able to meet personal demands.  If I need to leave the office early for a family commitment, I complete my work outside the office or during non-business hours.  Technology has provided significantly greater options and flexibility in how, and where, we complete our work today.  

I have also been fortunate and attribute my success in balancing multiple demands to the support of friends, family, employers and colleagues. Working in a law firm that appreciates the value of work-life balance has provided me the platform, support and flexibility necessary for success in my career as well as family life.  When I have had conflicts with family and work demands that required me to be in two places at once, I was always able to find a friend, neighbor, or family member to provide the necessary support.   Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The village always came through for me.   

Jaycie DiNardo: As a first year Family Law Associate, I am still learning how to navigate and negotiate my priorities to meet my professional and personal commitments. I am never going to be happy with myself if I cannot give 100% to both my professional and my personal life. For my professional life, I have learned that I am extremely goal-oriented, so I set personal goals for myself at work and I will push myself to achieve them. I set goals for myself that will help me improve my career and better myself as a lawyer. I find that striving to reach these goals allows me to give 100% of myself to work when it is time. For my personal life, I have started to learn how to set boundaries with my professional career so to not allow it to interfere with my personal life. While there are sometimes professional commitments that require immediate attention, I am generally able to give 100% of myself to my personal life when it is time to put to computer away.

3. Growing up, was there someone in your life that inspired you to become who you are today? Who was it and why?

Carolina Heinle: My own mother had a very demanding career while my sisters and I were growing up, but I remember her being a present and involved parent.  I think that set the stage for me – knowing that I didn’t have to choose between having a family and a rewarding career.  It’s an example that I hope to set for all 4 of my children, but especially my daughter.

Jaycie DiNardo: Growing up, I always looked up to my mother. She was kind, selfless, nurturing, and all the other qualities generally associated with a good mother. She was also ambitious, hard-working, poised, motivated and all the qualities of a successful professional.  My mom began as an attorney, then became a Commissioner, and finally was appointed as a Judge, a position that she has held for over 16 years. Throughout my childhood, in the midst of all of her achievements, she was still the epitome of an wonderful mother. She was at every sports game, every dance or gymnastics recital, every Math League or Odyssey of the Mind tournament, every instrument recital, every Girl Scout meeting – not only for myself, but for my two older siblings as well. She did it all. As I grew into adolescents and now early adulthood, my mother has remained my role model. Every day I aspire to make her proud and hope that I can one day inspire my future children to succeed in their lives the same way that my mother has inspired me.  

Ashely Stitzer: I grew up in a family full of matriarchs and was surrounded by strong women. Each woman faced different challenges over the years, but I watched them bravely face those challenges head-on and dictate their paths without apology.  I also watched the unconditional support that they provided to each other as nurturers. 

I was raised by a single mother who brought up three children solely on her own during a time when divorce was not as common and women did not have the same opportunities as they have today. While facing tremendous struggle, my mother taught me how important it is to be self supporting, to have a strong work ethic, and to contribute to others and the community. 

At this point in my life and career, I fully understand and am grateful for the ongoing influence, direction and support that these women provide to me.

4. As a female lawyer, have you encountered any specific challenges or biases in your career journey? How did you overcome them, and what advice do you have for other women facing similar obstacles?

Lindsay Dunn: I believe encountered bias during the beginning of my career, but I don’t know whether to attribute that to my age or gender. Either way, I embraced it, because any underestimation by one’s counterpart only serves to make them less prepared.

Carolina Heinle: Every once in a while, I still meet with people who would rather work with a male attorney.  My advice is not to take it personally.  If you are confident in your ability as an attorney, then you may win that client over.  If not, just move on.  Another client will come. 

5. What female public figure, past or present, inspires you and why?

Ashely Stitzer: I am inspired by the advocacy and litigation of fellow lawyer Gloria Allred. A champion of women’s rights and a trailblazer in the legal field, Allred has dedicated her career to defending women at their most vulnerable moments. She stands up for women and minorities who have faced abuse or harassment from those in power, doing so even when it is considered controversial or detrimental to her public standing.  Though done on a much less public scale, I strive to bring the same level of passion and commitment to my clients in my family law practice. 

Lindsay Dunn: Margaret Thatcher – [that answer should speak for itself]

1. Reflecting on Women’s History Month, how have you seen the role of women in law evolve during your career?

Theresa Nadachowski: Years ago, the culture of life was more geared to women being “stay-at-home mothers” and  “homemakers”.  They were expected to prioritize family and maintain the household, limiting them from furthering their education, seeking employment and also the ability to participate in public life.

Women have more opportunities to work full-time with more support at home with spouses sharing responsibilities and family assisting with childcare responsibilities, etc. Women are given the opportunity to make more choices today than years ago, which is more accepted and encouraged in society today.  Women today seek more advancement in their careers proving their ability to be equal.  Also, employers are supportive and taking actions to ensure advancement of women with their careers.  Companies now offer paternity leave.  This, in turn, allows women to balance life at work and home.  As you now see, men are taking more responsibility in the home life, and are enjoying spending more time with their families as well.

Working for MacElree Harvey for numerous years, I have had the pleasure of seeing Legal Assistants and Paralegals work full time, attend Law School, along with have a family at home, achieve getting their law degree, become attorneys, and some even opened their own Law Firm. 

Although life has changed a lot for women in the work field, the areas that I believe still require attention and improvement are some employers need more mentoring for women, be conscious of workplace discrimination and inequalities, increase awareness in changing the perception of gender roles, allow women to explore diverse opportunities and pursue their dreams, and be conscious of the gender pay gap by adjusting salaries to ensure women are compensated fairly.  Also, there is a need to provide women with necessary resources and access to education.

Diane Shoemaker: I joined MacElree Harvey in 1987. From the very first day, I considered myself lucky to work for a firm that recognized and appreciated my knowledge of my position as a Legal Assistant.

Being a member of the MH family for 37 years, I have seen the firm grow into a wonderful place to work. Over the years there have been changes in leadership and structure and women have been incorporated into higher level positions, which has made a huge difference with the culture of the firm.

Being a woman, married with 3 children and 7 grandchildren, family is very important to me. I am grateful that MH understands and supports those values.  

2. Growing up, was there someone in your life that inspired you to become who you are today? Who was it and why?

Theresa Nadachowski: Growing up in Philadelphia years ago, what was then called the “secretarial field”, was a field that more women were persuaded or mentored by our parents and family to pursue.  It was also more accepted in society at that time.  My mother inspired me to move toward this field and follow in the footsteps of the women in our family.  Schools also offered specific classes regarding this field.  I studied secretarial studies at Cardinal Dougherty High School and Manor Junior College.  After college, I worked as a Judicial Secretary for the Honorable James C. Crumlish, Jr. until his retirement.  I then had an opportunity to work at a Law Firm in Center City, and eventually joined the MacElree Harvey team, where I have been working for the last twenty years.  At MacElree Harvey, my title changed to “Legal Assistant” as I believe the firm felt we were more than just a secretary.  Now we are moving towards being paraprofessionals.  I do enjoy all aspects of this field, especially helping clients through the emotional journey of life changing events, and am blessed working for MacElree Harvey, my “second family”. 

Another person who inspired me throughout the years is Michelle Foster, CEO of MacElree Harvey, whom I have known for the last twenty years.  We joined MacElree Harvey months apart, and shortly after meeting, we realized our paths have crossed before.   Michelle has supported, influenced, and mentored me throughout the years.   I am truly blessed to know and work with Michelle at MacElree Harvey.

Diane Shoemaker: My mother was my biggest influence.  She worked nights as an operating room nurse but was always there for my dad and the four of us girls.  She took care of all of us, the house, etc. proving that a woman can work outside of the home as well as inside the home.   She is the reason I strive to do the best for my family both at home and at work. My mother taught us to treat others and you would want to be treated and I apply that to both my personal family and work family.

3. What female public figure, past or present, inspires you and why?

Diane Shoemaker: While not a “public” figure on a large scale, but rather a public figure within the firm, Michelle Foster as our CEO has inspired me. She is an amazing role model for all women.  She does a wonderful job for all of us here at MH and is a true advocate for the staff.  She has an open-door policy, and truly understands what all of us do on a daily basis. She is a caring and kind-hearted person, and you feel comfortable talking to her about anything and everything.

4. What is one thing others can do to empower the women in their lives?

Theresa Nadachowski: I believe in supporting all women and encouraging women, whether it is a family member or other women I may come in contact with, which will empower them to seek new opportunities.