Public confidence in the rule of law appears to be at an all-time low. We understand that the law treats everyone equally and that wealth, race, ethnicity, religion, gender and sexual orientation do not affect the outcome of court proceedings. People know that reality does not correspond to the ideal. Ultimately, we need greater diversity in law schools to improve diversity in the legal profession. Efforts to attract and mentor diverse high school and college students can be particularly beneficial. Increasing diversity, expanding access to justice and closing the technological gap mentioned above are essential to show the public that they can have confidence that the courts are available to solve their serious legal problems. Sarah Kim Eisenhard is a lawyer in the Community Legal Services (CLS) housing unit, which focuses on legal representation for tenants facing eviction and other housing issues. Sarah was previously an intern at CLS`s ISS Unit as part of the Community Disability Claim Project. Sarah joined Blue Ridge Legal Services in October 2006 as an associate and worked for several years as a supervising lawyer for the Harrisonburg office.
She has a varied practice that focuses on the needs of clients aged 60 and over. Sarah is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Virginia, the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, and the United States Court of Bankruptcy for the Western District of Virginia. Sarah was a trainer at national legal aid conferences in 2010, 2012 and 2013. I have been a legal aid lawyer for 38 years and I am always amazed at the changes that technology brings. We have so much more important information at our disposal that would have taken weeks or months in the 1980s and 90s. We also work to identify and eliminate implicit biases and practices that affect hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. Recently, the Illinois Lawyers Trust Fund convened a Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and sponsored a survey of legal aid programs to track employee diversity data. The aim is to identify and promote additional practices to increase diversity. We look forward to the proposals of the working group.
Our Lawyer Spotlight series shines a light on Illinois lawyers demonstrating the ideals of professionalism in their daily lives. These lawyers teach us how to adapt and thrive in a changing legal environment. While at Notre Dame, Sarah served as Chair of the Public Interest Law Forum and founding member and Chair of Legal Voices for Children and Youth, a new law student organization focused on legal issues affecting children. She was production editor for the Journal of Legislation and interned at the Notre Dame Legal Aid Clinic. Sarah Megan is General Counsel at Prairie State Legal Services, Inc., where she represents clients in complex state and federal court litigation and assists more than 90 Prarie State lawyers and paralegals with litigation and special projects covering a wide range of legal matters. You are here: Home > News and Updates > Civility > Lawyer Spotlight on Sarah Megan of Prairie State Legal Services, Inc. Technology has made remote work possible during the pandemic. Prairie State Legal Services has 10 offices in 36 counties in northern and central Illinois. Our employees share a customer database and shared document collection and regularly participate in meetings and court hearings via videoconference. This technology has made the practice much more convenient for our lawyers. Sarah graduated from Temple University`s Beasley School of Law in 2021.
At Temple Law, Sarah was a clinical student at the Sheller Center for Social Justice and the Third Circuit Federal Appellate Clinic, contributed to the Temple Law Review as a note/comment editor and editor, and served as co-chair of the National Lawyers Guild. Sarah also earned a Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Criminal Justice from Temple in 2018. However, the use of technology has widened the gap between litigants who have sufficient resources and those who do not. A good internet connection is crucial and many of our customers simply don`t have it. I have not given testimony by videoconference, but I know that our staff find it difficult because a significant number of our clients or necessary witnesses do not have access to the Internet at all. From 2008 to 2012, Sarah served on the Board of Directors of the Harrisonburg and Rockingham Thermal Shelter, a cold-weather homeless shelter in churches and other places of worship. From 2010 to 2012, she was Chair of the Board of Directors. Sarah was a member of the Virginia Bar Special Committee on Lawyer Referral from 2013 to 2019. She joined the Board of Directors of the Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS) in 2017 and is currently the Chair. Prior to CLS, Sarah articled at AIDS Law Project, Nationalities Service Center, Mazzoni Center Legal Services, and Defender Association of Philadelphia. Sarah received her B.A.
in Government and Psychology from the University of Virginia in 2003. Sarah graduated from the University of Notre Dame School of Law in 2006, where she was a Lardy Memorial Scholar in 2005-06, and the second recipient of the Conrad Kellenberg Award, which recognizes students` commitment to improving law school and local communities. My general way of coping with stress is nature. I am lucky to live in an area with beautiful walks and forest reserves. I try to go for a walk almost every day to clear my head, change gears and see what grows with the seasons. When I`m not going for these walks, I feel noticeably more anxious and tense. If we all contribute to making the justice system work for Canadians, confidence in the rule of law increases. All lawyers, judges and other decision-makers can play a key role in demonstrating fairness, professionalism, respect and courtesy, while avoiding behaviours that elicit contempt and cynicism for the rule of law.
The saying “Do the right thing!” remains a buzzword for all of us. Sarah M. Morton is Senior Counsel in the Harrisonburg office. Our Spotlight on Lawyers recognizes Illinois lawyers who are admired for their professionalism and courtesy. More interviews with lawyers like Sarah Megan can be found here. In 2016, Sarah received the Reginald Heber Smith Award from the National Legal Aid and Defender Association for her dedicated service and excellence as a criminal defence lawyer. When working remotely, it`s especially difficult to draw the line between work and non-working time. Technology makes us accessible at all times. My job is to help our lawyers with their cases, so I have to be very available to them. But I also need quiet time to do research, analyze problems, and write briefings and apps.
I try to limit reading and responding to emails to three or four 15-minute segments of the day to relieve stress and give me the quiet time I need. There is no doubt that individual experiences and backgrounds influence how we interpret laws and regulations and evaluate the actions of others. Diversity in law societies, tribunals and tribunals is essential to ensuring fundamental fairness for all persons and the rights and protections afforded to them by law. Promoting diversity is such an important endeavor and a mission for all lawyers. The reality and perception of equal access to justice depends on this diversity. In a tense moment, I just have to stop and take several deep breaths. Many years ago, our General Counsel, Bernie Shapiro, told new lawyers that they should “have a purpose for everything you do.” It`s a simple maxim, but it had a lasting impact on me. In my own experience, I have found that communicating with another person in an overly aggressive, less than civilized manner is useless and degrades the practice of law. Pausing to reflect before responding, whether in person, by email, phone or letter, can help me get back on track to achieve what I want to accomplish. There are concrete steps we can take to promote diversity and equity.
When hiring, we can explicitly and prominently emphasize a commitment to equity and inclusion in job postings and throughout our recruitment efforts, and deliver a welcome message to encourage people of color and other underrepresented groups to apply.