“Anne Swanson is Flying with the Drones,” is the title of the latest edition of Women of Legal Tech profiles at ALM’s Legaltech news. Swanson is a partner at Wilkinson Barker Knauer (she recently moved from Cooley). Swanson has a fascinating career that should inspire any interested in Drones, Capiitol Hill, Henry Kissinger and Baskin Robbins ice cream.

Swanson now helps “clients navigate challenges at the Department of Transportation, the Federal Communications Commission, and other federal agencies.”

BONUS QUESTIONS

More advice from Swanson (exclusive to CodeX)!

Managing up: I don’t think much about “managing up” anymore, but I always suggest young lawyers establish strong communications channels with the senior lawyers on a project. Once that’s in place, “managing up” is often not needed because the work goes smoothly by itself. If you are having trouble communicating with a senior lawyer, work on that the first minute that you detect it.

Dress codes? This may go against current trends, but, if in doubt, always dress for a professional occasion a little more than you think may be necessary. “Overdressing” is less of a professional sin than “underdressing.” That said, don’t shy away from bright colors.

Balancing tips: Don’t spin your wheels. Tackle your most challenging tasks at the point in the day when you have the most energy. As your household grows, make finding excellent and reliable household help a high priority.

Four favorite technology tools: “Waze,” (I couldn’t live without it, given D.C. traffic). “Instant Pot” “Venmo” and “Hopper.”

Book that inspired you? The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby, is a journalist’s memoir about his life before and after he suffered “locked-in” syndrome and was essentially paralyzed. Remembering that story always bucks me up during moments of adversity.

Favorite charities: The Washington National Cathedral – it is truly a “House of Prayer for All People.” College Tracks: a local non-profit that helps first-generation college students.

Monica Bay is a Fellow at CodeX, a freelance journalist, and a member of the California bar. She was the Editor in Chief of ALM’s Law Technology News for 17 years (and 13 years at The Recorder). If you are interested in telling your story in Women of Legal Tech, ping me at mbay@codex.stanford.edu.
Twitter: @MonicaBay.

Cover image: Clipart.com
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