We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laura Rosenthal. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laura below.

Laura, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I graduated from law school in Colorado in 1993, took the bar exam and failed it. Took it again, failed it. I decided to take a break from studying for the exam, my ego needed to stretch and besides, I was getting married. Then I moved with my Ex-husband to California. Eventually, nineteen years out of law school and two sons later, a couple of friends told me they believed that I should “woman up” and take the California Bar Exam. At the time, I was working less than full time as a paralegal instructor. My marriage was stumbling. But I studied, before work, during lunch breaks, late at night. But, I failed the July 2012 bar exam. No one was more devastated than my youngest son. I could not let him see that it was okay to just stop after failing, not this time. I signed up for the February 2013 bar exam and studied differently than my last approach. By that time, my marriage was failing and divorce was imminent. I had to pass. No pressure on top of the pressure! And, I passed.

In June 2013, I was sworn into the California Bar. In December 2013, I filed for divorce. I was hired at my current law firm in September 2013. In January 2021, I became a named shareholder. I am proud of my progress but importantly, I appreciate my team at work and the clients I serve. I actually took another bar and became a specialist in workers’ compensation law in November 2018. I passed that one the first time.

I passed the California bar exam 20 years after graduating law school. My hiatus was partially due to my choice to raise my kids and work less than full time. But it was also due to my fear of failure. But here’s what I learned after finally passing that damn test. Failing does not mean I’m a failure. Failing is part of the path to success. If there’s no struggle to learn, then what am I accomplishing? I had a comfortable life before I passed the bar exam, but I was not comfortable. I was not the woman I wanted my sons to have as an example of how to live your life. I wanted to show them that even if circumstances are difficult, you don’t give up. You try, you fail, and you get up and try again until you get there. And then you keep going.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

After I was sworn into the California bar, I answered an ad on Craigslist for a part-time workers’ compensation lawyer “will train.” I’ve worked in the legal field since college. I’ve been a legal typist, a paralegal, a law librarian. I’ve worked in tribal law, securities law, civil litigation. But, I’d never learned workers’ compensation law so I thought I’d give it a try. I interviewed at Law Office of Richard J. Meechan. I’ve been there 10 years. The firm is now Meechan, Rosenthal & Karpilow, P.C. (MRK) and I am a shareholder (partner). The change was official on January 1, 2021 and no one was prouder than my mom Ivy, a brilliant woman who fought hard for me to get an education and encouraged my success. She passed away in May 2021. She left me with a strong work ethic and connection to my Japanese heritage and Hawaiian roots. Incidentally, It’s rare for an Asian-American woman to be practicing law, much less as a named shareholder. In 2021, there were less than 5 percent of Asian-American women practicing law, according to a National Association of Law Diversity Report.

I represent injured workers, I have a specialist certification in workers’ compensation law, as does my partner Richard Meechan, who mentored me when I first started out in this field (and still does). I primarily represent first responders such as law enforcement officers, firefighters, and health care professionals. I also represent and support women who survive sexual abuse and harassment in the workplace; these are workers’ compensation claims when medical treatment is sought by the worker as a result. We have five attorneys and a large staff, many of whom are bilingual in English and Spanish. MRK represents workers in Northern California. My partner Ben Karpilow practices civil employment law, representing workers who have claims of employment discrimination.

I participate on boards and associations, which provides me educational opportunities and peer support, including the California Applicant’s Attorneys Association and California Lawyers Association Workers’ Compensation Executive Committee. I am also an adjunct professor of law at Empire Law School and serve as an administrative hearing officer for several local towns and cities. I believe that the best way to learn is to teach and to expand my reach into other areas of practice. This is how I can better serve my law firm and my clients, by continuing to learn and grow as an attorney. I think my mom would be proud.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I’m fortunate to have worked for many, many years in law. I’ve held a lot of staff positions and worked with a variety of teams, I know that I cannot do my job as an attorney without the support of my paralegal and support staff. I think in terms of managing a team, it’s important to communicate who is on the team and what each team member’s function or job duties are. Then, have follow up for accountability for yourself as a manager and each team member. Finally, besides assigning tasks, watch for opportunities to appreciate each member of your team.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new clients for me is referrals from existing clients. That is the best source, because it means I’m doing a good job. It also means I need to maintain high standards for myself and my work, which I appreciate.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://servinginjuredworkers.com/laura-rosenthal/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/settings?trk=d_flagship3_profile_self_view_public_profile

Image Credits
First photo with my kids was taken by Karen Morgan Images. Permission to use. Other photos were taken by my staff members or friends. Sorry, I don’t have a lot of photos of myself.