Career Development Committee & Resources

The Career Development Committee focuses on providing in-house attorneys with information about managing their careers and achieving personal and professional fulfillment. The programming it organizes includes informative sessions on general career topics, special gatherings for lawyers who are new to in-house practice, and events to help both active and passive job seekers find the next great in-house job. 

The leaders of the Career Development Committee are:

• Shaneequa Brooks (Co-Chair)
  Corporate Counsel
  REGENXBIO Inc. 
   
• Anjanette Stinson (Co-Chair)
  Associate General Counsel
  National Student Clearinghouse 
   
• Karen Borno
  Vice President and Deputy General Counsel
  Verizon
   
• Cynthia Boyle
  General Counsel - Employment
  WTW
   
• Margaret Hackbarth
  Assistant General Counsel – Real Estate
  Constellation Energy
   
• Helen Lee
  Senior Compliance Counsel
  Accenture LLP
   
• Richard Spitalnik
  Senior Counsel
  American Red Cross
   
• Steven Tibbets 
  Lead Commerical Counsel, Public Sector
  Elastic NV

ACC National Capital Region
2023 Professional Growth Partners

As you plot and manage your career path, it helps to have established relationships with professionals who specialize in career counseling and attorney placement.  If you manage a legal department, you may also want to know attorney search and staffing professionals who can help you with temporary staffing needs and permanent placements.  The following firms are our Chapter's Professional Growth Partners (and local points of contact are provided):

• Bridge Partners, LLC:  Debbie Tang, Partner -- Phone: (202) 809-0876; E-mail: debbie.tang@bridgepartnersllc.com
• Firm Advice: Mary Winter, President and General Counsel -- Phone: 571-426-0396; E-Mail: MWinter@FirmAdvice.com
• Garrison & Sisson, Inc.: Nancy Palermo, In-House Practice Group -- Phone: 202-429-5630; E-mail: npalermo@g-s.com;
• Major, Lindsey & Africa: Deborah Ben-Canaan, Partner & Senior Practice Leader, In-House Counsel Recruiting -- Phone: 202-628-0665;  E-mail: dbencanaan@mlaglobal.com.  Bill Mooney, Managing Director, Interim Legal Talent -- Phone: 267-238-9861;  E-mail: wmooney@mlaglobal.com
• Robert Half Legal: Jonathan Parella, Regional Vice President, Mid-Atlantic -- E-mail: jonathan.parella@roberthalf.com

The ACC National Capital Region chapter places great emphasis on assisting its members with career development -- whether it's managing an in-transition period, finding that next great job, or improving or broadening your skill set.  In addition to our incomparable continuing education offerings, our chapter also provides programming and other services to help members have the best possible in-house career and life.

The main facets of our career development services are:

• The Career Development Committee:  For more information about the Committee, and contact information for its chairs, please see the list above. The Committee regularly presents substantive programs on a variety of career topics which are found on our 

  Upcoming Events Page and in our Archives.

• Clearinghouse Community: Our very own "matchmaking" service. Members who are seeking temporary fill-ins for attorneys who are out on medical or family leave, sabbatical, etc., or who need a short-term ramp-up in staffing, can join the Clearinghouse Community and post their needs.  Members who are in-transition and are subscribed to the Community would get that information and be able "apply" to fill them. To join the Community:
  1. Go to the ACC website at www.acc.com and LOG IN.
  2. Hover over My Network in the top toolbar and click on MY NETWORKS.
  3. Click on Manage My Networks. It opens a new window. Click "yes" for to join the Clearinghouse. Click SUBMIT to put the change into effect. Then click at top to close the window.
  4. Click on VISIT MY COMMUNITY to view the community to which you are subscribed. When you click on MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS, you will be able to change how you receive communications from the community.

Job search tips:  Simple - but important - steps to take to maximize the benefits of your membership in ACC and the National Capital Region chapter as you go through a job search:

• Keep your contact information up to date – you want to continue to get communications from ACC and our chapter.

• If you are in-transition, you can continue your membership at no cost for one year (write membership@acc.com).

• Register and regularly check the In House Jobline at  http://jobline.acc.com/search.cfm for new postings.

• Don't hesitate to use the annual Membership Directory or the online directory to reach out to other members and see what or who they know, or may have heard. 

• Network, network, network……

General:

• Keep your resume up to date, let others critique it.  Develop numerous versions.  If you are sending it in response to a particular opening, make sure it aligns with what the position is seeking.

• Develop a catchy “elevator speech” (one to two minutes) that explains what you have done and what you are looking for.

• Structure your days.  Designate times for job-hunting, and times for other activities (to keep you fresh, since job hunting can be draining).

• Don’t be shy – let all your friends, family and other contacts know you are searching and what you are searching for.

• Make a list of career websites that you want to check regularly.

• Be seen – attend CLEs, attend other bar association functions, attend social functions – you never know who you may meet.

• Pro Bono/Volunteer – people are needed to feed the hungry, clean up schools, counsel people on mortgage problems – it will lift your spirit!

• Network, network, network……