All Rise: Uniting to Advance Women and the Future of Law

Support All Rise Now

Donate now

All Rise Registration

Register Here
Suffolk Law School All Rise is an annual event that celebrates remarkable alumnae who have made lasting impacts in the Suffolk Law community and in the field of law. First convened in 2018, the spring event has become a great way for Law School students, alumni, and friends to come together in support of changemakers in our community.

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Join us for Suffolk University Law School’s 6th annual All Rise: Uniting to Advance Women and the Future of Law event. We will celebrate the professional achievements of remarkable trailblazers who have made an impact in the field of law and within our Suffolk Law community.

5:30 p.m. EDT | Fireside Chat on Lessons in Leadership with Alumnae Founders and CEOs (In person and live streamed)
6:30 p.m. EDT | Dean's Remarks and Awards Presentation (In person and live streamed)
7:00 p.m. EDT | Dinner Stations and Networking Reception (In person only)

Location

The George N. Keches Room
Suffolk University, Sargent Hall
120 Tremont Street, Boston

Fireside Chat

Speakers

Kendalle Burlin O’Connell, JD ‘06
CEO and President MassBio

Julia Rodgers, JD ‘15
CEO and Co-Founder, Hello Prenup

Marie-Louise Skafte, JD ‘96
Skafte Global Law, P.A.
Suffolk University Trustee

Moderator

Susan H. Spurlock, JD
Executive Director, Ford Hall Forum at Suffolk University
Senior Fellow, Moakley Center for Public Management

2023 Award Recipients

Catherine T. Judge Teaching and Service Award

Kathleen Elliott Vinson, JD ‘95
Professor of Legal Writing and Director of Legal Writing, Research, and Written Advocacy, Suffolk University Law School
View Bio [PDF]

Marian Archer “Trailblazer” Award

Nina Mitchell Wells, JD ‘76
Former Secretary of State for New Jersey
View Bio [PDF]

All Rise Rising Star

Alyse I. Constantinide, BA ’07, JD ‘10
Principal, Beveridge & Diamond, PC
View Bio

About the Awards

The Catherine T. Judge Teaching and Service Award recognizes a distinguished female faculty member who exemplifies Professor Judge’s unwavering commitment to student mentorship and thoughtful pedagogy. Nominees exemplify Professor Judge’s dedication to the students of Suffolk University Law School.

The Marian Archer Trailblazer Award honors an alumna who, through her work and contributions to the profession, captures the pioneering spirit of Marian Archer. Nominees break barriers for women, helping to elevate their status in the legal profession and inspiring the next generation of women in law.

All Rise Rising Star Award recognizes an alumna who has made significant contributions to the field of law in the first 15 years of her career following graduation from law school. The Rising Star is an up-and-coming changemaker in the spirit of the women who came before her.

Event Advisory Committee

Event Chair

Cara Thompson, JD ‘10

Members

Tamela E. Bailey, JD ‘04
Kendalle Burlin O’Connell, JD ‘06
Sarah N. A. Camougis, JD ‘92
Jennifer K. Crawford, JD ‘07
Alexandra R. Hassell, JD ‘15
Kayla R. Kassim, JD '24
Paulette R. Marie, JD ’88
Divya A. Mathew, JD '24
Susan M. Myers, JD '91
The Honorable Amy Nechtem, JD ’85
Carol A. Starkey, JD ’88
Regina C. Sullivan, JD '88
Chayla C. White, JD ‘13
The Honorable Mary Dacey White, JD ’78 (Ret.)
Cherina D. Wright, MBA ’17, JD ’17

Thank You to our Sponsors

Platinum

Regina C. Sullivan, JD ‘88

Gold

Company logo for Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford, LLP, Sponsors of Suffolk's All Rise
Company logo for MassBio, Sponsors of Suffolk's All Rise
Company logo for McLane Middleton, Sponsors of Suffolk's All Rise
Nina Mitchell Wells, JD ’76

Silver

Choate logo
Lando & Anastasi logo
National Grid logo
Company logo for Smith, Costello & Crawford, Public Policy Group, LLC, Sponsors of Suffolk's All Rise

Bronze

Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C.
Atwood & Cherny P.C.
Beveridge & Diamond P.C.
Cetrulo LLP
Karen M. Blum JD '74
Burns & Levinson LLP
Sarah N.A. Camougis JD '92
The Hon. Joan N. Feeney (Ret.), JD '78
Jane Freedman Law, LLC
JAMS
Lawson & Weitzen LLP
Morrison Mahoney LLP
Skafte Global Law, P.A.
Susan M. Myers, JD '91
The Hon. Amy L. Nechtem JD '85
Prince Lobel Tye LLP
The Honorable Mary Dacey White (Ret.), JD' 78 and John C. White, Esq., JD '80
Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

Become a Sponsor Today

Sponsorships of All Rise directly benefit The Catherine T. Judge Scholarship in honor of Suffolk Law’s first full-time female professor, helping students to overcome financial barriers to access Suffolk’s excellent practice-ready legal education.

For more information, please email Nancy Galindo-Rodriguez, Director of Corporate Relations and Sponsorships or call 857-360-0106.  Learn more about becoming a sponsor [PDF].

Become a sponsor today
Sargent Hall at sunset

All Rise: Women at Suffolk Law

Transcript

00:03 The Suffolk Law school really allowed me to find what was right for me, what I was passionate about.

00:09 You will see Suffolk law grads on the bench, you will see them in immigration court, in the government.

00:15 They really permeate every aspect of our society.

00:19 I feel a connection whenever I go because usually I run into someone who went to Suffolk.

00:27 Trailblazers from the first woman lawyer to the women today.

00:31 We have to think back and thank those who created the foundation.

00:35 We're able to further along because they started that path for us.

00:47 Fifty years ago when I started law school there were no women who were there to guide me and there were no men who cared.

00:56 So I just, I made my own way.

00:59 When I graduated, I was one of the first 100 women practicing law in the State of Vermont.

01:04 When I started in the field, there were very few, only a handful of women.

01:09 So I'd look around in the criminal court and I'd be the only woman there.

01:12 Suffolk was the door that opened for them and made everything else possible.

01:17 Suffolk gave me an opportunity, an aim and a goal. I think that's huge.

01:25 You look at a law school yearbook from the 1960s, you might see one or two women in that yearbook.

01:30 Now half of the class was female and that's because of the people that came before us.

01:34 It's real important for people to see what is possible. 

01:42 When I was in law school, Professor Judge was the only woman at Suffolk, and I was in class with 300.

01:48 I was 1 of 5 women in 300. It was reassuring to see a woman professor.

01:55 She showed by example what a female could accomplish.

02:00 Katherine was amazing. At first as a student you terrified of her and then you slowly but surely began to realize that she was so devoted,

02:09 so dedicated to teaching and so prepared.

02:13 She shaped me as a lawyer. She was always famous for saying in our contracts class what's your authority?

02:20 So I learned that if you're going to argue both sides, you better have authority to back up your argument.

02:25 She was tough, she was indomitable. She was really an extraordinary woman. 

02:39 It was a practical learning experience. They really taught you how to think practically, how to think logically.

02:46 And I felt comfortable in the courtroom from the beginning, and I feel like my training at Suffolk provided that to me.

02:52 Women of Suffolk law are so much better prepared in terms of joining the legal practice.

02:59 As a result, they are influencing the rule of law, they are influencing the way justice is administered and that is so essential to our society and our democracy.

03:09 We're still blazing trails.

03:11 We are the instrument and authors of change.

03:15 I am very proud to be a Suffolk law graduate.

03:19 I give back to Suffolk because I love this law school and I love this city.

03:24 It makes me feel like I'm doing something meaningful to help the next generation.

03:30 Our time has come to rise up and be heard.

03:34 The phrase all rise to me means all of us rising up together to help women advance in opportunities for leadership.

03:45 I really see Suffolk as a place where we are given that chance to rise up.

03:49 Suffolk law has so much to offer in terms of who you can be and women have done so much. We should celebrate that.