Have you ever felt a strong sense of purpose but struggled to find a career that aligns with your values?

Many professionals seek fulfilling work that allows them to make a meaningful impact, but it can be challenging to navigate the transition into a different field, especially one as demanding as public interest law.

In this episode you will:

• Gain insights into the rewarding journey of a public interest attorney dedicated to serving immigrant communities.
• Discover practical strategies for exploring new career paths while maintaining work-life balance.
• Learn how to leverage networking and mentorship opportunities to pursue your passion.

Tune in to this inspiring conversation with Ernie Collette, a dedicated public interest attorney, as he shares his transformative journey and offers invaluable advice for those seeking purposeful work.

Topics Discussed

• Ernie's personal journey and what led him to public interest law
• Balancing passion and preventing burnout in demanding legal work
• The importance of mentorship and representation in the legal profession
• Practical advice for exploring new career paths through networking
• The emotional fulfillment of helping clients in immigration law
• Navigating the transition into public interest work
• Strategies for maintaining work-life balance
• The role of curiosity and continuous learning in career growth
• Overcoming the fear of saying "no" and setting boundaries
• Building a supportive community for underrepresented groups in law

Natalie R. Birnbaum, Esq. is a healthcare regulatory attorney and a state policy consultant serving at the intersection of sex equity,  healthcare technology & innovation, and reproductive, health, rights, and justice.  She is the owner of the legal & policy consulting company, Repro Solutions, P.C., Of Counsel at Nelson Hardiman, LLP, and co-chair of the New York City Bar Association's Sex & Law Committee.

Wendy Heilbut provides legal solutions and guidance to high-growth companies: bridging the gap between traditional legal service and strategic advice. Along with her team, she supports companies navigating the development of novel intellectual property offerings, complex corporate negotiations, and innovative business developments. She has an innate ability to understand and communicate with parties on all sides.

Wendy is well connected in the start-up, investor, and female founder ecosystem of New York City and loves making connections for her clients and contacts. Prior to founding Heilbut LLP, Wendy was the Managing Partner of a boutique law firm as well as an associate at a large global law firm; she also started and ran a non-profit for underserved mothers and worked at a start-up. When not tending to her clients and her team, Wendy is tending to her garden, her children, and her personal wellness.

Wendy was Emily's guest on Beyond the Legal Lens once before: In July, 2022. Listen to that episode here: 

https://beyondthelegallens.libsyn.com/series-2-episode-5-wendy-heilbut-the-intersection-of-law-and-innovation

Eunsoo Choi is a dedicated 3L at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, on her way to becoming a healthcare litigator upon graduating in the Spring of 2024. She has gained valuable expertise both before and during law school. Currently serving as a Judicial Extern at the U.S. District Courts, Eunsoo is gaining invaluable insights into the intricacies of the legal system. She also spent two summers at prestigious firms, Barnes & Thornburg and Reed Smith, where she absorbed the thriving world of big law.

Eunsoo had the pleasure of seconding to Blue Cross and Blue Shield in the summer of 2023, giving her a unique perspective on the intersection of law and healthcare. She also served as an Extern at Walgreens during the Fall Semester of 2022.

Eunsoo's passion for healthcare law is deeply rooted in her personal experiences and her unwavering commitment to advocacy. She aspires to use her legal knowledge to make a meaningful impact, championing the causes she is passionate about.

Solange Hackshaw graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science and a B.S. in Communication Studies in 2021 from Boston University. As a Trinidadian-American immigrant, she is passionate about advocating for marginalized communities and challenging systemic inequities. Solange is currently a first-year law student at Duke University School of Law.

JoAnn Holmes, Esq. (“Jo") is an IP & digital assets attorney, Web3 advisor and founder of Holmes@Law.  She consults with business leaders globally to navigate evolving Web3 legal and regulatory risks, and help clients leverage blockchain technologies into revenue ecosystems. 

With expansive experience as Outside General Counsel to international brands and tech companies, Jo has overseen multi-billion dollar intangible asset portfolios spanning more than 150 countries.  And, she’s consistently closed lucrative agreements with IP innovators like Disney, Microsoft and the NFL.  

Jo serves on the inaugural Blockchain Law for Social Good Center board, and is featured among the global Top 100 Women of the Future™.  She regularly advises elite accelerators like Techstars, Dapper Labs and the Atlanta Blockchain Center.  Jo has spoken more than 30 times in the US and abroad, delivering pragmatic insights on blockchain law and Web3 revenue strategies for both public audiences, and in private corporate workshops.  

www.holmesatlaw.com

Elise Holtzman is passionate about attorney success and happiness! She is a former practicing lawyer, professional coach and trainer, and the Founder & CEO of The Lawyer’s Edge®, which works with law firms to grow thriving businesses by helping lawyers become better business developers and leaders. 

In addition to hosting The Lawyer’s Edge podcast and speaking frequently for law firms and bar associations, Elise is the creator of the Lawyers Making Rain™ program and the Ignite Women’s Business Development Accelerator. 

Elise earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and her JD from Columbia Law School, where she was a senior editor of the Columbia Law Review and is now a Vice President of the Columbia Law School Association. Prior to founding The Lawyer’s Edge, Elise practiced law in New York City with AmLaw 100 firms Fried Frank and Morgan Lewis.

https://thelawyersedge.com/about-us/meet-elise-holtzman/

Dyllan Brown-Bramble is a NY Biglaw privacy and cybersecurity associate and a Senior Fellow at the Internet Law and Policy Foundry. At his firm, Dyllan maintains an active pro bono practice with a focus on advising low-income entrepreneurs and small businesses. He also serves on the VOLS Pro Bono Advocates Council and the junior board for the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project. While in law school, he was a Tech Law & Policy Scholar, represented clients in the Intellectual Property and Information Policy Clinic, was a research assistant at the Center on Privacy & Technology, and was a teaching assistant for Computer Programming for Lawyers and Legal Communication Design. He also worked as a legal intern at Morgan Stanley and SambaTV and as a fellow at Mount Sinai Innovation Partners and InSITE.

Bree's Personal Story

My roots lie on a corn, soybean, potato, and onion farm in Southeastern North Dakota, where I had the opportunity to manage crop variety and chemistry test plots. Occasionally, I even got behind the wheel of a tractor or combine. Growing up in this environment, I witnessed the remarkable impact of biotechnological, chemical, mechanical, and electrical innovations as they completely transformed not only my family's commercial agriculture operation but also our entire rural community.

As an academic scientist, my journey has taken me on kayaking adventures across the lakes of Minnesota, living and working in the captivating landscapes of Iceland, picking cotton under the blazing Texas sun, and collaborating closely with regulatory officials in Kenya.

I attended law school part-time and worked in various roles throughout the past four years. First, I served as a policy advisor on Capitol Hill. Then, I managed global business development for an antibody discovery contract research organization. Concurrently, my journey in patent prosecution began at an IP boutique firm and then most recently continued in big law.

Outside of work, my rescue dog, Kai, and rescue horse, Rico, keep me active outdoors. I also enjoy engaging in various forms of physical activity, including yoga, [solid core], and Pure Barre. My love for holistic personal and professional development continuously drives me to keep learning and growing. I am also passionate about studying nutrition, and during COVID, I completed my Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Certificate.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/breevculek/