Shardé Skahan felt drawn to law studies since she was a high school student. After being encouraged by her parents to join a program that introduced minorities to law practices, she knew she had found the career path she wanted to follow.
Skahan shared, “My parents signed me up for a course over the summer that was intended to introduce minority high school students to the practice of law.
“I participated in that program where we got to go to a local law school, read cases, and do a mock trial at the end. And also speak to lawyers and judges about the profession.”
One of the biggest challenges she has encountered has been facing disrespect in her profession.
Skahan said, “A challenge that I think is common to a lot of minority lawyers, but especially Black female lawyers, is making sure that you are taken seriously and respected in your profession.”
She also added that she’s had experiences where she is asked if she is a secretary or a paralegal, even though she is the lawyer handling the case.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota Law School, Skahan moved to Southern California, and while looking for a job she joined the Black Women Lawyers Association
(BWL), where she found the support she needed to land her first interview.
After being connected to a local law firm with the help of the BWL President at the time, Skahan was immediately hired and began her first official position as an employment lawyer.
The BWL recently celebrated its 50th anniversary in April. The BWL is a non-profit corporation whose mission is dedicated to charitable, educational, and community-based services, and addressing the needs and concerns of African American Women in the legal field.
For Skahan, being the 50th president of the BWL, she feels the organization has helped her find community, friendship, and support.
“It is a momentous time for me to be able to be president, and I feel very fortunate to hold that position,” she shared.
“But aside from just being able to have a community within the Los Angeles legal profession, it has also been a source of friendship, support, and of providing me with an opportunity to get to know different types of people.”
As president, she is striving to make a meaningful impact in the community and for future generations.
Skahan said, “I hope to impact the community and impact potential law students. That’s one of my goals in my presidency- supporting the pipeline of future generations of lawyers. Even if we can make a difference in one student’s life who says they feel they got the mentoring they needed, or that they decided to become a lawyer because they met someone from BWL, then that would be a success to me.”
During the Los Angeles wildfires in January, the BWL spearheaded legal clinics to support affected communities, partnering with local Bar Associations and recruiting 175 lawyers as volunteers.
“It really was a community effort, which was nice to see,” Skahan said.
The organization has also been hard at work revamping their mentorship program to ensure that law students, and students interested in law, are able to connect with lawyers that can offer them guidance and mentorship.
“Each year we also make sure to engage our young lawyers and our law students, and we have a very important program that we do annually with the John M. Langston Bar Association, where we host Bar review courses for students who are studying for the Bar [Exam],”she explaine.
For Skahan, a piece of advice she would give to someone wanting to become a lawyer is to get exposure in the field.
“Many lawyers in the profession are more than willing to talk to high school students or even law students who have an interest in their practice area and just want to learn more,” she noted.
“I find that the community really does want to help to expose the profession to other people.”
To learn more or become a member of the BWL, visit blackwomenlawyersla.org.
