In today’s installment of my ‘Inspired By’ series I’m talking about someone many of you may not know – Andrea D. Lyon. I’m so inspired by Andrea D. Lyon; who is one of the smartest, most talented criminal defense lawyers in North America. Do you like law or true crime? Then keep reading because this is someone you need to know!
Babaton Samuel Checked Blazer // Babaton Conan Checked Pants // Ruth Bader Ginsburg Pin // Nude Heels // Sunglasses // Sunglasses Chain
When I started law school and took an interest in criminal law I was shocked to see how few women pursued it. I was hard pressed to find more than a handful of women to learn about / learn from who did criminal defense. Luckily, I stumbled across a book by Andrea D. Lyon that not only gave me a female to look up to, it made me even more passionate about pursuing a career in criminal defense.
Andrea D. Lyon is criminal defense lawyer in Michigan & Illinois specializing in death row cases. She is an Associate Professor and Dean of Clinical Studies at the University of Michigan’s law school and the author of the memoir Angel of Death Row: My Life as a Death Penalty Defense Lawyer. AKA. The book that changed my life / career trajectory. (Ps. the above link is for my US followers, here’s the link to Angel of Death Row on Amazon Canada for my fellow Canadians).
Andrea D. Lyon specializes, as I said, in representing individuals facing the death penalty. She was the first female ever to serve as lead attorney in a death penalty case and has a ground-breaking record of having represented nineteen individuals facing the death penalty and … crazy as is this to believe … she has won all nineteen times.
It is this impressive track record that undoubtedly lead to the nickname ‘The Angel of Death Row’ which was given to her by the Chicago Tribune. The name stuck; hence the name of her autobiography.
What inspires me about Andrea D. Lyon is not just her legal skill / that ridiculous track record; but the humanity and realness she brings to the job. I remember reading a particular passage of Angel of Death Row where she talks about the first time she got a client accused of a particularly heinous crime … infanticide. She talks about how she just kept thinking to herself ‘Oh please universe, just not a baby killer, I can handle any other case, I can’t represent a baby killer’ … and then that is the exact client she got.
This really stuck with me because she opened up about the emotional aspect of what she was going through in representing this person and the moral and psychological challenges that came along with it. As someone with an abundance of emotion, this was (and is) an area I struggle with as a defense lawyer so to have someone be raw and real about going through it was exactly what I needed to keep going in this career.
Lyon is a woman who has a relentless drive for helping the underdog and fighting for human rights and, to me, that is the ultimate inspiration.
Alright, on a lighter note, fashion! If you’ve been reading my Inspired By posts, you know that I like to wear an outfit that reminds me of the person I’m profiling. I think that Andrea D. Lyon would be proud of this checkered pantsuit! I love the longerline of the blazer and that it’s double breasted. It just feels like a powerful outfit, you know?
I also pinned on my RBG pin, which I’m pretty sure needed to be part of this outfit! I’ve also been loving the glasses chain trend, it feels both retro and modern and also has that working woman vibe.
I hope you liked today’s post! As always, if you have any questions just let me know. And if you liked this post and are interested in criminal law check out my other law posts:
The 10 Most FAQ’s About Being a Criminal Lawyer
6 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Applying to Law School
I love the pearl chain for your glasses.
Jennifer
Effortlessly Sophisticated
Isn’t it fun! I got really into glasses chains during NYFW last week – I styled these ones and another with gold stars on them. They’re such a fun accessory!
This suit is STUNNING! I love the design and how you styled it. Total BOSS BABE!! Xx.
Thank you so much Carrington!!
Thank you so much Carrington!
What a cute suit! Love the pattern! I also really love those sunglasses!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
Thanks Lizzie!
Love your inspired by series!! And this windowpane suit is AMAZING!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
Thank you so much!!
The pearl chain and pin are my favorite details! So cute.
Thanks Anna, i love them as well! Its crazy how much tiny accessories can totally transform and amp up a look!
Looking so sophisticated with a fun pink lip. Love!!
XX Angelica
https://eraenvogue.com
Thanks Angelica!!
oooh I didn’t know about her — thanks for sharing another great icon!
xx rebecca // http://www.rebeccapiersol.me
Aw thanks for reading Rebecca!!
This look is absolutely amazing!! Loving your pearl glasses chain!
Rachel
http://www.hello-her.com
Thank you Rachel!!
I hadn’t heard of her. Thanks for sharing. Obsessed with this power suit on you!
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
Thanks Amy! <3
Feel like I can’t pull off a pant suit most days but this look seems doable! Love the look! xoxo, Sarah
You could so rock this! The key to pantsuits is proportions – ie if the pants are looser go with a slim fit blazer. if the blazer is quite fitted than opt for looser pants. Also, rock some fun accessories!!
I can see why you were especially inspired by Lyon, as that’s the career choice you made as well. It still shocks me to this day that you have the emotional capacity to be in that line of work. I have so much respect for you! And I’m sure Andrea D Lyon would as well. I’m glad you wrote up this post. It was really neat to read about how this woman’s work impacted your life for the better!
Aw thank you so much Stephanie. It definitely is emotionally trying at times and as someone who already has a lot of emotions there are days that are really rough. But I also love it so much and get such reward out of helping people that it’s worth it. Definitely not a career I can see myself doing for 30 years though because of the emotional toll. Crim law has a really, really high burn out rate for that exact reason!
How sharp is this suit – Love the fit and style. You look great!
❥ tanvii.com
Thanks so much Tanvii!
Love your “inspired by” series because you’re always so spot on and I love the chic looks. This suit is everything!
Aw thank you Adaleta!!
That is such a fun checked suit on you and it’s great you found someone to look up to who inspires you at work! I hadn’t heard of Andrea before, I’m Australian so maybe that’s why.
Hope that you had a nice weekend at home 🙂 Thank you so much for joining the #weekdayWearLinkUp 🙂 I just posted this week’s linkup, I’d love you to join again! 🙂
Thank you so much! Hope you’re having a great day, I joined your link up today too!