Ed.
note:
This
is
the
latest
installment
in
a
series
of
posts
on
motherhood
in
the
legal
profession,
in
partnership
with
our
friends
at MothersEsquire.
Welcome
MacKenzie
OBrien
to
our
pages.
Click
here
if
you’d
like
to
donate
to
MothersEsquire.
As
the
demands
of
law
school
intensify,
the
challenges
grow
as
well
for
new
mothers
balancing
the
responsibilities
of
academics
and
parenthood.
While
the
traditional
law
school
experience
is
strenuous
enough,
those
navigating
new
motherhood
and
legal
studies
face
hurdles
that
often
go
unrecognized
by
their
classmates.
The
experiences
of
two
law
students
who
are
also
new
mothers
highlight
how
law
school
peers
can
provide
moral
and
academic
support,
fostering
a
more
inclusive
and
compassionate
law
school
environment.
New
mothers
in
law
school
frequently
find
themselves
juggling
multiple,
often
conflicting
roles.
Molly
(not
her
real
name),
a
current
law
student
and
mother
to
a
10-month-old
boy,
describes
time
management
as
her
most
pressing
challenge.
“I
want
to
spend
time
with
my
son,
especially
since
he
is
so
young
and
grows
so
fast,”
she
shares.
“But
I
also
want
to
do
well
in
school
and
put
the
time
into
my
readings
and
other
assignments.”
Law
school
coursework
often
feels
relentless,
with
no
real
“time
off,”
making
it
difficult
for
a
new
mom
to
find
time
for
family
without
feeling
like
she’s
sacrificing
academic
performance
in
the
process.
The
emotional
toll
of
this
balancing
act
is
compounded
by
guilt
—
guilt
for
not
spending
enough
time
with
her
child
and
guilt
for
not
dedicating
enough
hours
to
her
studies.
She
emphasizes
the
difficulty
of
navigating
both
worlds,
feeling
like
there’s
always
something
more
she
could
be
doing.
She
isn’t
alone.
Jacqueline
(not
her
real
name),
a
law
student
and
mother
to
a
6-month-old
girl,
cites
exhaustion
and
the
constant
effort
to
be
an
engaged,
present
parent
while
managing
demanding
coursework
as
her
greatest
challenge.
For
both,
it’s
a
daily
struggle
to
keep
up
with
the
considerably
high
academic
expectations
while
honoring
their
precious
roles
as
mothers.
Support
from
classmates
can
be
a
lifeline
for
new
mothers
in
law
school.
Small
acts
of
empathy
—
whether
academic
or
emotional
—
have
been
invaluable
for
Molly.
She
notes
that
even
small
gestures,
like
congratulatory
remarks
or
reassurances
that
she’s
doing
great
work
as
both
a
mom
and
a
student,
help
to
normalize
her
experience.
In
a
setting
where
motherhood
can
be
seen
as
an
added
“burden,”
this
recognition
makes
her
feel
validated
rather
than
isolated.
Jacqueline,
on
the
other
hand,
highlights
the
importance
of
more
practical
support.
Her
study
group
has
gone
above
and
beyond
for
her,
not
only
offering
academic
resources,
like
shared
notes,
but
also
stepping
in
with
childcare
assistance,
like
reading
with
her
daughter
so
she
can
catch
up
on
assignments.
This
level
of
support
allows
her
to
maintain
some
balance,
knowing
that
her
peers
see
her
as
a
valuable
team
member
and
not
just
a
struggling
mother
juggling
extra
responsibilities.
Both
mothers
have
clear
ideas
for
how
law
schools
could
better
support
new
mothers.
Flexible
study
groups,
resource-sharing
initiatives,
and
on-campus
childcare
options
are
at
the
top
of
their
lists.
Molly
suggests
that
law
schools
could
help
create
a
culture
of
flexibility
by
encouraging
professors
to
be
more
understanding
of
new
parents’
needs,
such
as
accommodating
occasional
tardiness
due
to
childcare
arrangements.
Open
communication
and
a
willingness
to
adapt
could
make
a
huge
difference
in
helping
new
mothers
manage
their
dual
responsibilities.
Additionally,
establishing
child-friendly
spaces
on
the
campus,
as
Jacqueline
suggests,
could
provide
mothers
with
a
dedicated
area
to
balance
parenting
and
studying.
An
on-campus
daycare,
for
example,
could
lessen
much
of
the
time
and
stress
associated
with
coordinating
childcare,
allowing
mothers
to
remain
engaged
in
academic
and
extracurricular
activities
without
sacrificing
time
with
their
children.
Encouraging
student-led
initiatives
can
also
play
an
important
role.
Molly’s
involvement
in
reviving
her
school’s
chapter
of
PALS
(Parents
Attending
Law
School)
demonstrates
how
peer-led
groups
can
foster
a
sense
of
community.
Organizations
like
MothersEsquire
also
strive
to
connect
students
with
professional
networks,
offering
guidance
and
mentorship
to
support
new
mothers
throughout
law
school
and
into
their
legal
careers.
Another
critical
aspect
of
supporting
new
mothers
lies
in
reshaping
the
way
success
is
perceived
while
in
school.
Law
school
often
imposes
strict
standards,
promoting
a
culture
that
prioritizes
competition
and
intense
dedication
to
studies.
However,
this
structure
can
be
particularly
alienating
for
new
mothers,
who
are
forced
to
divide
their
focus.
By
building
a
supportive
community
that
acknowledges
and
adapts
to
their
unique
circumstances,
law
schools
can
redefine
success
to
include
resilience,
adaptability,
and
collaboration
—
a
definition
that
seems
to
more
closely
reflect
success
outside
of
the
world
of
academia.
In
essence,
providing
support
to
new
mothers
in
law
school
benefits
everyone
by
cultivating
a
culture
of
compassion
and
collaboration.
Law
students
who
reach
out
a
helping
hand
today
can
help
build
a
stronger,
more
inclusive
profession
for
tomorrow.
MacKenzie
OBrien
is
a
3L
at
the
Brandeis
School
of
Law
at
the
University
of
Louisville
and
a
first-generation
law
student.
She
hopes
to
score
big
in
the
world
of
sports
law
someday.
When
she’s
not
diving
into
contract
clauses
or
IP
law,
you
can
find
her
cheering
on
the
New
York
Yankees
or
spinning
the
latest
addition
to
her
vinyl
record
collection.