Law Students

SuperWomen JDs and What You Can Learn From Them: Featuring Diane Russell of Silverdale, WA

By Noha

Bio for this week's Superwoman JD Diane Russell:

Diane has practiced law since 1986, including six years with the Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. She has been a trustee with the Kitsap County Bar Association, president and vice president of the Washington Women Lawyers, Kitsap County Chapter and a board member and president of the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce.  Diane has twice been recognized as a Rising Star in the Washington Law and Politics magazine, a recognition for young professionals with the talent to make it to the top of their field who are age 40 and under. She has served as a faculty advisor for the Career Prosecutor Course put on by the National College for District Attorneys.  She is a true leader in the profession.

1. How has being a woman affected your career or legal education? 

My (female) guidance counselor in high school strongly steered me away from law school, she pushed me very hard to be a legal secretary ? she stated why go through college and law school when I would probably get married and waste all the education.  She was not sure that I was smart enough to be an attorney.  I was stubborn.  Then when she found an article on paralegals, she pushed hard for me to do that.  I was almost swayed ? girls were not to be lawyers ? ever. If my gender had been male, I would have received guidance and encouragement.  I was fortunate that my parents were friends with a ?career woman? who absolutely encouraged me to enter law school following college.  I did not receive encouragement from my high school teachers or counselors ? my parents listened to the guidance counselor with one ear ? my mother often stated that I would get married and drop out of college ? a common misperception facing women at the time.  (She is now very sorry she made those statements, but has admitted that she was a bit jealous because the opportunity to even enter college was not there for her ? I fully understand her position.  Once I started law school, she was my number one champion).

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Full post as published by Ms. JD on March 15, 2009 (boomark / email).