TJ Johnson is one of the most visible women in the legal technology world. Based in Canada, she worked in a law firm; was a key leader at ILTA (the International Legal Technology Association); and now is at Olenick.

ALM Legaltech News “Women of Legal Tech” column this month features Johnson. Read it here.  (I write the column.)

CODEX EXTRAS

Here are three bonus questions exclusive to CodeX:

Who was your most important mentor: My Girl Guide Leader, Jeannette Muzio (Canadian equivalent to Girl Scouts). She told me I had a unique way of looking at things that would take me amazing places — and that there would be people who would be threatened by that. She said “Never let them take that light out of your eyes.” I remember that every time I hit a major roadblock. And when darkness threatened to dim the light, I found another light source.

Dress codes? I have not worn a skirt or dress to work in years, nor high heels. I did both in early years, and that combined with running five miles a day, caused feet and knee issues. I moved to lower heals and suit pants with coordinating jackets, blouses or sweaters.

A general counsel I worked with years ago, an amazingly smart and petite woman, often wore pretty dresses to board meetings. When I asked her why, she said it meant they underestimated her, and she had the advantage. I disagreed with her approach, preferring to be straightforward and honest in the way I dress.

Favorite charities:

• World Vision and the Red Cross – I love to feed people by cooking for them myself but where I can’t do that, I like to support ways for people to feed themselves, and to have access to good water, and to do all those things after there are disasters.

• WISE – Women in Science and Engineering, an outreach of the University of Manitoba. They educate and motivate youth into exciting careers in Engineering and Science, and provide outreach to northern First Nations communities. They provide me an outlet for my mentoring of young women into technology careers.

Monica Bay is a Fellow at CodeX. She is also a freelance journalist (Alchemizing Law LLC, with Sean La Roque-Doherty). Bay is a member of the California Bar. Email: mbay@codex.stanford.edu. Twitter: @MonicaBay.

Photo: Courtesy of TJ Johnson.
Cover: Clipart.com