The Parent Group at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law (Catholic Law) hosted three members of the law school community for a panel discussion the evening of Wednesday, March 29, 2023.
Organized to address juggling a legal career alongside parenthood, the panel gathered together Kevin Walsh, Knights of Columbus Professor of Law and the Catholic Tradition; Elizabeth Winston, Professor and Co-Director of the Law and Technology Institute; and Katherine Gamelin Crowley, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, to talk about their respective experiences serving in the parental and legal professions. With Jennifer Shepard (1L) moderating, the three advised attendees on the healthy manners whereby they too could manage the two vocations harmoniously.
The evening’s conversation began with a brief overview of each panelist’s history as a parent. Walsh, the father of six children, spoke first, detailing the odyssey that he and his wife experienced as they became parents shortly after getting married once he had graduated from law school and she from medical school. Winston, a parent of three, followed, relaying the story of how, after meeting her husband in college, she became a mother while working as an associate at a law firm. Crowley, an alumna who met her husband while both were studying at Catholic Law, finished the overview by describing the decision-making process which the two used to balance their legal careers and life as parents of twins.
As the night progressed, Shepard presented the three panelists with a series of questions submitted by members of the Parent Group. When asked about how they maneuvered the guilt of missing moments in their children’s lives because of work-related obligations, the three agreed that, while communication with their children was a necessity, such guilt was nonetheless a simple of fact of life as a lawyer-turned-parent.
“Some of it is knowing what you're getting into,” Walsh remarked. “Pick the things you aren't going to miss, and forgive yourself if you do miss them.”
“The guilt is real,” Crowley said in agreement. “But you have to learn to let go of it when you can.” Elaborating on a possible solution, she continued: “Really, find the time, carve it out, and be prepared to be mentally present when you're with your family.”
Continuing with the theme of remaining a supportive family member, Shepard asked each to advise on maintaining a healthy relationship with a significant other. “It is probably the hardest thing as your kids get older,” Walsh commented. Referencing a quote by the late Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia for whom Walsh clerked, about how children become civilized at the dinner table, Walsh explained that he strives to spend time with his family during dinnertime but that he sometimes lacks the flexibility to always keep that commitment. Walsh’s advice is to find friends who can help along the way. “If people are offering you help, it’s probably because you need it,” he asserted jovially, prompting laughter from the audience. “Take it,” he quipped.
As the evening came to a close, Shepard closed by asking the panelists to provide their thoughts on sacrificing a career for a family, or on sacrificing a family for a career. “You shouldn't limit yourself,” Crowley responded speedily. “Professional fulfillment is important for your family, and being a parent can make you better in your work. Simplify where you can and give yourself grace when things don't go as planned.”
Winston added a few more words of advice to conclude the event. “There’s never a good time,” she said earnestly. “Whatever decision you're going to make—just go for it.”
The Parent Group is a student-led initiative that recognizes the challenges of completing a law school education while raising a family, and works not only to serve as a support structure but also to look for ways to incorporate the families of the students, faculty, and staff into the Catholic Law community.