How to Lose Your Job by Supporting Palestine [UNLOCKED]
Dec 21, 2023
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Former Big Law professionals Ryna Workman and Jinan Chehade discuss their experiences of being knocked off the course for expressing solidarity with Palestine. They dive into topics such as free speech, diversity in corporate law firms, repression of pro-Palestine expression, discrimination and censorship, illegal questions and accusations, Israel's responsibility, the backlash faced for supporting Palestinians, the importance of critical thinking in law schools, and upcoming projects including a discussion on the Federalist Society.
Support for Palestine can lead to job loss in the legal profession due to discriminatory practices within law firms.
Personal values and unapologetic advocacy are crucial considerations for future paths in the legal profession.
The consequences of doxing and harassment include negative impacts on mental health and career obstacles, requiring efforts in seeking justice and a call for true diversity in law firms.
Deep dives
Big law firms dropping law students and recent grads for pro-Palestinian expression
Rina Workman and Janan Chahati thought they had secure law jobs until their support for Palestinian liberation made them targets on social media. Their firms, Winston and Strawn and Foley and Ladner, respectively, dropped them. This conversation delves into the true meaning of free speech and diversity efforts within corporate law firms, exposing their reactionary ideologies.
Interrogation and termination based on expression and background
Janan Shehadi, a recent graduate of Georgetown Law and Rina Workman, a third year law student at NYU, discuss the hostile meetings that led to their termination. Janan's firm, Foley and Ladner, interrogated her about her pro-Palestinian advocacy, involvement with Students for Justice in Palestine, and her Palestinian heritage. Rina's firm, Winston and Strawn, rescinded her offer due to an email she sent as the student bar association president at NYU Law expressing solidarity with Palestine. This highlights the discriminatory practices within the legal profession.
Reflections on career goals and the need for change
Both Janan and Rina reflect on their career goals and how their experiences have altered their perspectives. They discuss the need for legal spaces that do not require personal relationships to feel safe and included. They express the desire to work in environments where shared politics and worldviews allow for a sense of belonging and support. This awakening has also led them to reevaluate the importance of personal values and unapologetic advocacy when considering their future paths in the legal profession.
Consequences of Harassment and Doxing
The podcast episode dives into the consequences of doxing and harassment that the guests, Rina and Janan, faced after expressing their opinions on Palestine. Rina, a law student, received hundreds of emails and faced aggressive issues with her university administration. She was even removed from her elected position as president of the Student Bar Association. Janan, who was fired from her job, discusses the lack of support from her law school, while the university offered some assistance. Both guests highlight the alarming effects of the constant harassment they experienced, including the negative impact on their mental health and the hurdles it created in their studies and careers.
Challenging Discrimination and Seeking Justice
The guests share their efforts in challenging the discrimination they faced and seeking justice for themselves and others. Janan discusses her plans to file a federal discrimination claim against her former employer, seeking financial reparations and setting a precedent for other law firms to ensure they do not target individuals based on their political opinions. Rina emphasizes the importance of encouraging critical thinking in law schools and not dictating opinions to students. They emphasize the need for law firms and institutions to embrace true diversity, including diverse political opinions, and create a welcoming environment for marginalized individuals. The guests also highlight the broader pattern of attacks against those who speak up for Palestinian rights and encourage law students to continue advocating for their beliefs.
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Ryna Workman and Jinan Chehade were both knocked off the Big Law course they thought they were on, after expressing solidarity with Palestine. Now they're on a mission to make some good trouble.
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