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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]