This month’s “Women of Legal Tech” (Legaltech news) features Chicago-based Kate Samuels, a Senior Software Engineer at Heretik. She also serves as a developer manager. “I love making tools that help humans focus on what humans are good at—with an assist from technology,” says Samuels.

In “Women of Legal Tech: Producing Products with a People Focus,” Samuels discusses her career and shares how she has succeeded at a job that previously was dominated by men. Check out Samuels’ experiences and advice here.

CODEX EXTRAS

Here are extra questions exclusive to CodeX!

Balancing tips: Recognize that life balance, like physical balance, is dynamic, not static. This means sometimes work will be a priority, sometimes your home life will be, and sometimes there will be dueling priorities. If you pay attention to how things are shifting, you can more quickly adapt to focus on what needs the attention at the time—and avoid working too hard on something that doesn’t need the attention.

Dress codes: Dress however you like, as long as it doesn’t impair your ability to do your work. Remember that “being taken seriously” is a necessary component to being able to do your work.

Work tips re: “managing up”: Learn to speak truth, to power candidly, but with respect. Just like you, your boss wants to know when they’re screwing up so they can fix it. Then remember to listen openly and with respect when someone does the same with you later in your career.

Balancing tips: Recognize that life balance, like physical balance, is dynamic, not static. This means sometimes work will be a priority, sometimes your home life will be, and sometimes there will be dueling priorities. If you pay attention to how things are shifting, you can more quickly adapt to focus on what needs the attention at the time—and avoid working too hard on something that doesn’t need the attention.

Favorite charity: The Bill & Melinda Gates foundation. They’re trying to solve big, important problems of the world, and they aren’t afraid to hold people accountable.

Where do you want to be in five years, 10 years?: I love my life right now. At work, the team is great; the work is challenging, interesting, fun, and what we build has the potential to really create change. At home I have an awesome family and friends, and plenty of time to pursue hobbies. My hope is that five or 10 years out, I’m still in much the same situation, though the details will surely be different.

Your mantra: This too shall pass. No matter the situation, saying that to myself reminds me to have perspective.

Compiled by Monica Bay, a CodeX Fellow and a freelance journalist. She is a member of the California bar. Email: mbay@codex.stanford.edu. Twitter: @MonicaBay.

Cover image: Clipart.com
Photo courtesy of Kate Samuels.