Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 24

FEATURE
Given her bubbly personality and showy style, Allison found herself
dialing down her look and the way she spoke to make herself fit in.
" Maybe I have to wear less makeup, maybe I should wear flats instead of
heels, then I might get less redline on my work, " Allison recalls thinking
to herself. " I kinda made an effort to dull my shine a little bit to be taken
more seriously. But it wasn't really necessary. It was something I did
myself. " Allison soon realized that her doubts of belonging were all
illusory.
As a prosecutor, Allison had to balance being a Black woman and an
attorney prosecuting people who look just like her. This was also a new
experience of work she was entering. " In the beginning I was a little bit
nervous; trial work is sink or swim, " Allison says. " Being comfortable being
myself after the first trial helped my success as well as my ability to
request lower sentences for those in underrepresented groups. "
Allison's goal was to hold people accountable while taking into consideration the disadvantages underrepresented groups face in the criminal
justice system. Her record speaks for itself - she tried and obtained convictions in six out of seven cases as well as reduced the number of cases
that otherwise would have gone to trial by offering plea deals and diversion programs.
Allison identifies two reasons for the low number of Black women attorneys in government. " First, there are a lot of women who look like us that
are not going to apply because they don't think they will be selected, "
Allison says. Second, " once we are in, undoubtedly we face a lot of
hurdles. "

At DOJ, Allison says she was very vocal about policies and procedures
that were inherently biased not only as they relate to the promotion of
Black women attorneys but also to " the way those biases are transferred
out to the individuals and communities in which we serve. "
" Black women attorneys at DOJ are not being considered for these
promotion opportunities at the same levels, " Allison says, and a lot of
times they decide to leave. " That's unfortunate for DOJ to lose such great
talent. [But] eventually you get to a point where you feel like your voice
can have a bigger impact outside of the government. "
Though she has left DOJ to open her own firm, Allison says it is important to have a diverse federal workforce defending against inherent
biases within the government. " I don't want anyone who is currently in
law school or who is starting out in the legal field to feel that it's impossible to work where they want to work or at the most prestigious place . . .
I'm of the belief that DOJ is the most prestigious organization to work
at as an attorney, " she says.
Her advice for Black women law students contemplating government
work but feeling apprehensive about obstacles they may face? " You put
your head down, you do the work, and you don't compare yourself to
others. OK? That's what you do. And you focus on producing the best
quality work possible. You ask questions, as many questions as you can,
to whoever is willing to answer your question. "
Tonée Jones, a 3L at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke
School of Law, is a D.C. Bar writer in residence. She is a paralegal specialist at
the U.S. Department of Justice's Tax Division.


http://taxnotes.com/research

Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021

Digital Extras
From Our President
Practice Management
Calendar of Events
Toward Well-Being
Staying Put in Big Law feature
A Sisterhood of Latina Lawyers Sidebar
Increasing Diversity & Inclusion the the Legal Profession feature
Cultivate Mentorships sidebar
A Tribute to Judge June L. Green feature
Delicate Balance for Black Women Attorneys in Government Feature
Falling Short on Disability Inclusion feature
Elusive Justice in Violence Against Native Women feature
Worth Reading
On Further Review
The Learning Curve
Member Spotlight - Marcia Madsen
Member Spotlight - Simon Zinger
ABA Delegates Corner
Attorney Briefs
Speaking of Ethics
Disciplinary Summaries
The Pro Bono Effecy
A Slice of Wry
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Cover1
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Cover2
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 1
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 2
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 3
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Digital Extras
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 5
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - From Our President
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Calendar of Events
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Practice Management
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Toward Well-Being
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Staying Put in Big Law feature
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 11
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - A Sisterhood of Latina Lawyers Sidebar
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 13
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Increasing Diversity & Inclusion the the Legal Profession feature
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 15
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Cultivate Mentorships sidebar
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 17
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - A Tribute to Judge June L. Green feature
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 19
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 20
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 21
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Delicate Balance for Black Women Attorneys in Government Feature
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 23
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 24
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 25
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Falling Short on Disability Inclusion feature
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 27
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 28
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 29
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Elusive Justice in Violence Against Native Women feature
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 31
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 32
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Worth Reading
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 34
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 35
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - On Further Review
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - The Learning Curve
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Member Spotlight - Marcia Madsen
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Member Spotlight - Simon Zinger
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 40
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 41
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - ABA Delegates Corner
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Attorney Briefs
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Speaking of Ethics
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 45
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Disciplinary Summaries
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 47
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - The Pro Bono Effecy
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 49
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 50
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - 51
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - A Slice of Wry
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Cover3
Washington Lawyer - March/April 2021 - Cover4
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