Corinne Cantwell Heggie is a Principal at Wochner Law Firm LLC and she specializes in estate planning. She advocates to protect your property, regardless of your marital status, your age, your income level or your tax bracket. Corinne gave a general overview of estate planning on why it’s important and who it is for. They also talked about the benefits of joining a Bar association and how it can help you sharpen your skills and build your network.
She also talked about simple tech that really makes serving clients more convenient and safer in the pandemic and what kind of technological advances will lawyers need moving forward in order to connect with clients and partners better.
Timestamps:
Quote:
“No one’s going to care as much about you and your career as you are”
“You have to build up the ability to be like a legal ninja. But at the same time, you got to stick up your hand and ask for opportunities”
“What is the worst someone’s going to say? ‘No’? That’s fine, ‘no’ is just ‘no’ for right now. It’s not ‘no’ forever.”
-Corinne Cantwell Heggie
Corinne Cantwell Heggie
Website: https://www.wochnerlawfirm.com/corinne-heggie
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinne-cantwell-heggie-04b27b16a/
Corinne Cantwell Heggie, Principal at Wochner Law Firm LLC
Estate Planning
Corinne is an attorney in Wochner Law Firm LLC who specializes in estate planning. She prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney and other planning documents and assists with estate and trust administration. She counsels and drafts corporate documents on behalf of her clients in order to protect them from asset loss and court battles.
Corinne has practiced as a BigLaw partner and counsel at Chicago’s largest majority women-owned law firm. She is licensed in Illinois and Missouri and can appear before the United States Supreme Court and federal courts located throughout the midwest.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinne-cantwell-heggie-04b27b16a/
Have comments, questions, or concerns? Contact us at feedback@1958lawyer.com
Episode Transcript:
Ron Bockstahler 0:29
Welcome to the show. I'm your co host Ron box seller.
Kirsten Mayfield 0:31
And I'm Kirsten Mayfield and we have with us today Corinne Cantwell Heggie she's principal with Walker law firm. She's been an attorney for 20 years, and she's one of those powerful women in law. We love talking to you on this podcast. In 2020, Chicago lawyer at Chicago daily law bulletin had its inaugural class of the 50 salute women in law. crin was one of those named before woessner, she worked in big law and she was counsel at the largest majority female in law firm in Chicago, which is very cool. She was also the immediate past president of the woman's Bar Association of Illinois. But I would be remiss not to also speak about what she does, as an attorney and she specializes in estate planning. She's an advocate to protect your property, regardless of your marital status, your age, your income level, your tax bracket, which is a great and worthy cause I've known so many people who have not been able to grieve properly because they were suddenly mistake planning. And that's insane to me. Chris, thank you so much for joining us today.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 1:33
Well, Kirsten, thanks for that introduction. Thanks for having me. And Ron. Also, thanks to you for having me.
Kirsten Mayfield 1:38
Now, I have to say you've got a very important other role you are the merit badge counselor for your boy scout troop, troop 156. Shout out to everybody that I'm sure the boys are all going to listen to this. So what are some of your favorite merit badges?
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 1:55
Yes, um, well, I have a few my love all the citizenship in the nation in your community badges just because it really allows the young man because we only have men in our in our troop right now, to get out into their community and see how it works, who's behind it, learn about the village, how it runs. I also like the merit badges that speak to things that I really kind of like to do, I can one comes to mind is the art merit badge, which is really great. And you can do it virtually, which has been a plus, with a lot of the museums, giving access to certain exhibits or resonant exhibits that they have online.
Kirsten Mayfield 2:36
That's so cool. You know, I okay, so I went to film on I love Boy Scouts, my little brothers both by Boy Scouts, my oldest little brother gotten his Eagle Scout, just tons of fun. But, uh, you know, I didn't think about how being in Boy Scouts and having these virtual opportunities during the pandemic, that's so lovely, and wonderful. And something that's like, if you're a parent, you're dealing with trying to get them to school and all this having the ability to do these extracurriculars. Virtually that's, that was probably like really good for those those kids.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 3:10
Yeah, I agree. Carson has kind of been a game changer was really last spring, when at least are part of our sliver of the world was really locked down. It gave something for our household, because I have two scouts to do and kind of, I don't want to say pass the time, but collectively work towards something that didn't relate to getting the schoolwork turned in, and the tests submitted. So it was definitely a silver lining and was wonderful that we were able to find ways to continue to move forward with the merit badges and go through the coursework in a virtual setting. And thanks to the museums, for instance, with respect to the art merit badge, and then you know the citizenship series of badges with the people who helped make our government local and state and federal Ron,
Kirsten Mayfield 4:04
you almost sound like Leslie Knope with Parks and Rec with the community merit badge
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 4:09
too. I love that. People, I just think it's so important to understand how your community works. And, you know, the boys aren't paying taxes, but why there's this infrastructure. And then it always culminates when you're talking with me with the fact that we live in a democracy, that we are so privileged to have a vote and that you've got a vote. Got to do it.
Kirsten Mayfield 4:33
Yeah. It's good, good skills to to embody people went
Ron Bockstahler 4:38
well, I'm glad there was good scout activity going on during the lockdowns that we had going on.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 4:44
has a lot of great adults who give a lot of time and energy and guidance to these young men. And I mean, I'll just say it again. It was really nice, at least in our house to have something to work towards together. That was Fine, you were learning something but you didn't really know you were doing it and wasn't related
Ron Bockstahler 5:05
to, to school. Though I would say this past winter is the first time in at least four years that I haven't been out there polar bear camping trying to get those badges for the boys. So
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 5:16
Oh, yeah. Well, I mean, you don't even need a polar bear camp. I mean, I have two of my my guys are going camping this weekend. And ironically, we're talking about it last night at dinner. My middle guy said, you know, right before lockdown, they went to star rock, because it was a camp out weekend. And he froze his toes off, it was so cold. So you don't have to go look and fire for a polar bear experience, certainly in Illinois. What's north of 80?
Ron Bockstahler 5:49
Let's jump into estate planning, having you on the show made me feel a little guilty as I haven't completed my estate planning documents, renewed estate planning documents. So talk to us about estate planning a little bit. And let's talk about how to get clients like me to actually complete the process.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 6:06
I love to talk about that, Ron. So thanks for asking. You know, I think estate planning is something that's a big behemoth, and maybe an elephant in the room for a lot of people. So when you work with our firm, we really try to make it easy and accessible for a couple of reasons. One, it's really not about your mortality, it's about your legacy. And making sure you have control of where your hard earned assets, whatever they are, get to where they need to go or where you want them to go. And to it estate planning. It's just not for high net worth, high tax bracket. People who are married, it couldn't be further from the truth. If you own property, I don't care if it's a savings account, I don't care if it's a 401k I don't care if it's a bond you received. For your first communion. There are tools for you to protect it to make sure one you can name someone to help you make decisions about that property. If you're living and you can't do it, and to where you want it to go when you're not here. So that's what we focus on at our office really helping people understand that it's, you know, kind of debunking it or flipping the script on estate planning, and trying to make it easy and accessible.
Kirsten Mayfield 7:31
So in the the mode of that Ron says he hasn't gotten his stuff in order, I'm younger than him. I don't even like what is what is my property? What What do I have? Because I you know, I rent an apartment, I don't have land, I don't have a house. So to me, I don't need to get anything in order. But I do have the items you just mentioned.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 7:53
Yeah, so kearson a great tool for you would be a property power of attorney that would allow you to name someone you know, like and trust, to make decisions and help you manage that property. If you were living and you are unable to do it, that can be very powerful. There's a lot of wealth that is accumulated in deferred income plans. So 401 K's 403, B's, IRAs, SEP IRA, Sep 401, K's and even if you don't do trust planning, okay. With a power of attorney, you can name someone who can make decisions about that property about that wealth. If you're living in you can't do it yourself. I mean, that's huge. And in Illinois, that lawmakers have a form for you to follow.
Kirsten Mayfield 8:51
I never thought about it, but like, let's say I was unable all of a sudden I you know, I would assume they'd say oh yeah, like husband can handle it. But that's not necessarily the case.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 9:04
Well, the law will tell you what batting order who's going to bat and when. But typically, these situations Kiersten and Ron are not like low stress, unemotional if someone is coming to have to make these decisions for you, or, or you know, you're out of commission. It's a it's a who's on first kind of situation. So with a property power of attorney, you can have that batting order set. So there's no confusion. But to your point Kiersten they might get to your husband, they might get to your parents, they might get to your adult child. But that's going to depend on how energized the person at your bank, the HR department at your employer, if it's an HR if it's an employer provided 401 K is energized to help your team how Spin family. And that means, you know, child, spouse, partner, whomever, get answers so they can get into the driver's seat.
Kirsten Mayfield 10:11
Yeah. And that's the last thing anyone wants to do when they're trying to deal with their emotions and life that just drastically changed.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 10:20
Yeah, I agree. I mean, I see it, I know it. I know it. And even in situations where people have, you know, they've got their close with their siblings, or they, you know, they have a spouse. Every bank is different. And that's not bad or good. It's just a fact, every life insurance company is different, every HR department is different. Have the documents setup so that person knows where the document is. And two can say, here's the property power of attorney, here is the the representation that this person cannot make these decisions. I'm in the driver's seat, please send me anything you need for me to accept this role to put the hat on my head. But let's get rolling.
Ron Bockstahler 11:03
So talk a little about how you infuse technology into your firm, because this is a personal area of law as it is for me, I mean, you know, I haven't done mine, because there's like 24 different documents, it's a little overwhelming, if I'm not sitting with my attorney in person going through
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 11:20
a grade. So we have tried to incorporate technology. And I will say we have. And for better or for worse, the pandemic helped us kind of normalize its use in terms of connecting and keeping up with clients, we are looking forward to being able to get back in person with our clients. But I think for legacy clients that have been with the firm, we brought them along, and they may have had that opportunity to talk with us and meet us in person. So it's just more getting them comfortable with. I'm still current over zoom, or I'm still Korean, over FaceTime. I'm still Korean and Google meets. And I do think where it's been something that has been normalized because of COVID. With new clients, right? New engagements, it's it might take one or two meetings, to see if we're going to be a fit for that person. And we recognize we're not a fit for everyone. But we found it to be extremely helpful and actually help us bring our clients align, not because we said hey, you've got to use technology, but because we got to be able to do this to help serve you. And we want to serve you.
Ron Bockstahler 12:42
So in when we talk technology, are you using some kind of a secured? How do you share documents, I guess that's what I want to know,
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 12:50
was secure was secured PDFs. I mean, we're on a cloud and our cloud is secured and backed up. So that's how we do file, you know, file management. And we do have when we're not we're not paperless, it would be great to be paperless. But our paper footprint, because we're in the cloud has greatly diminished. So with secure PDFs, and we leverage and if you know someone can't do a secure PDF, we'll do you know, we'll work with whatever platform they have. We're pretty nimble in that regard. We'll meet the we want it to be easy for the clients. So if they're using a different method, or they're comfortable with Dropbox, great, we'll go there if that's where you want to be,
Ron Bockstahler 13:32
or what signatures are required in real estate planning documents.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 13:37
Yeah, so that's a great question. We were really lucky because in March of last year, Governor Pritzker signed a an emergency order to allow virtual notaries to take place, you know, there were about 10 criteria. And if you satisfy them, you were able to continue to, you know, do business with papers that require notarized signatures, that actually is that was codified and became law, which is great in July. A lot of documents they'll run still require what signatures but we leverage digital where we can, which is not, you know, it's not as many as that a closing like a real estate closing. But I still think if anyone's done a real estate closing the buyers because they're working with the lenders, most of the most of the time. They they have to be there and provide witness signatures on on, you know, two inch stack of documents, so they're not gone. Totally obsolete, but the virtual Notary has really helped kind of lower the lower the hurdle there. Yeah, I think
Ron Bockstahler 14:46
funny you mentioned buying a house we did we refight our condo, and they sent someone to our home to do all the documents, or at least they scheduled that but then at that period of time in the condos in Indiana You actually have have a witness. So they had to reschedule at his office, and we had to physically go there, which I thought was just crazy. But and I think they've since rescinded that law, you don't need a witness, but during that short period of time, how things change?
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 15:17
Yeah, I mean, that's I will say, I am glad you brought up the witness piece rod. Because when people try and do it yourself, or go online and get these documents completed, you know, if you don't dot the i's and cross your T's and crossing a t would be witnesses, how many witnesses are required? What are the requirements for a witness? Right? That's where, you know, you can sign documents that might not necessarily work when you need them to.
Ron Bockstahler 15:46
Let's talk about like, so we got a lot of attorneys listening. And that's one of the bigger issues where attorneys don't actually go and do their own estate planning documents don't have a living well, you know, what are the basic minimum that they at least need to have in place today, no matter what age they are?
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 16:01
Right? Well, we've kind of talked about a property power of attorney which is going to allow you to name someone to handle your property via bank accounts. 401k is real estate, sign your tax return, if you're living and you cannot do it yourself. Staying in that property lane, a will is really important, even if you don't have children, because in Illinois, a will is where you will articulate or identify the guardians for your minor children. But more importantly, a will allows you to identify your property where you want it to go be at an individual individuals a charity, and when you're not here, and critically. So critically, identify an executor. And state that that executor if he or she or they have to go to court to probate an asset, they can be excused to have to pay a bond. I mean, the number three and four should probably be one and two, in the order of I mean, that is a huge, a huge way to eliminate confusion and asset depreciation, because you've got to pay the bond to get to court. And the judges often not going to excuse it, if it doesn't say in black and white, and you're well. So that's why I was important. And then I'm going to I'm going to switch into the healthcare lane not because I'm a doctor, but because you need to sign a healthcare power of attorney so you can name someone who can help your your medical team, make decisions for your medical treatment if you're living and you can't make those decisions yourself. So at the very least you need powers of attorney health care and property and a well.
Ron Bockstahler 17:43
Yeah, the living will always someone to help the doctors because you don't want to put that pressure on your family members or, you know, that just a lot of stress to put on a family member lamport
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 17:55
Yeah, well, well put, I can't that's it. So never easy. It's never not stressful, if someone has to make medical decisions for you.
Ron Bockstahler 18:05
Let's kind of jump into you've built a great career. I guess, first of all, why did you go into this area of law?
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 18:11
it's so rewarding to help people unravel a question or an issue that they have been unable to solve or haven't been able to get a practical answer to.
Ron Bockstahler 18:24
Okay, did you practice in other areas? Because you were with the big firm prior to and on your way to your own firm with your husband?
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 18:32
Right? Yeah, I've had the benefit and the great fortune, I think of working in a large national law firm, and then a a boutique majority women owned firm. And I've always enjoyed working with individuals. And I had along the way over my career, I've always done work with individuals, but because of the nature of where I practice, I did a lot of work with corporate legal departments. And, and in all lanes, the counseling, pre litigation, settlement and litigation. And I think that gives me an ability to see issues from a 360 degree standpoint. But I have to say from day one, it was always great to work with individuals or families or or business owners who you know, started the business or came into a business and and were able to make it soar and grow.
Ron Bockstahler 19:28
In your career. you utilize you been very involved with Bar Association, your immediate past president of the woman's Bar Association of Illinois, can you let's talk about how that's helped your career. And what some attorneys that maybe aren't so involved, you know, why should they get involved? Yeah,
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 19:44
I'd love to talk about the women's Bar Association of Illinois, Ron. It's an honor organization that's near and dear to my heart. I was a member when I, you know, was a newly licensed lawyer largely because of a wonderful capital partner at the first firm. That I worked at her name is Jennifer sander. She was in line to be the president of the organization. And she was always so gracious in terms of walking the floor where the associate SAT, and said, you know, the firm has a ticket for this, come join me. Come, you know, she, no pressure, if you can make it, let me know, I'll see you there. And whenever you came, she might have had 10,000 other people in the room she had to speak to. But she always was like, Chris, thank you for coming. I'm really glad you could be here. I never forgot that. I still keep in touch with Jennifer. And so that was a great impression. And, and I had the pleasure of being at the firm when she was the president of the women's Bar Association. So we got to go to a lot of events to meet a lot of really wonderful leaders, not only in the legal community, but in the in the in the larger community in Illinois.
Ron Bockstahler 20:56
So it makes me think, when you first started, that's how you got in and your firm paid for. But what if you're a solo or a smaller firm? Is it worth paying for out of your pocket?
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 21:08
I think it is, I think it absolutely has. And let me tell you why. Because bar associations, you know, help individual lawyers build muscles to network. And you know, if you're a solo fine yourself, or if you're a small, firm yourself in your firm, and then it creates a really natural platform for you to discuss what you do and why you love it. It's just that basic. And you know, when I say it to young lawyers or to individuals who are not sure, right, if they're going to pay out of pocket to continue, not only their membership with wb AI, but any other Bar Association, I always challenge them to think about that. That's not nothing.
Kirsten Mayfield 21:55
And you also you, you said that you talk to Jennifer, and you keep in touch with her because of these personable skills, because she was a higher level person she came around she saw, like spoke to you as a human, she's looked you in the eye, she remembered you, those little micro skills. I feel like those are something you would probably be gaining from a bar association if you're not a solo attorney as well. Or if you are a solo attorney don't get those interactions.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 22:23
Absolutely. Kiersten. I mean, you're learning if you if you stick your hand up, and you and you join a Bar Association, I commend you. And I also would encourage you to join a committee or join an event committee or you know, a small group committee or go to a CLE. You're going to go there and you're going to, you know, maybe perfect your elevator pitch or learn to talk to people learn who who could be strategic partners for you. Who do you like? Who's going to be a colleague, if you just need to vent and you can't do it to a colleague at work or your you know, your significant other or your roommates? Yeah, there are so many soft skills that one can learn from joining a bar association and showing up
Kirsten Mayfield 23:06
showing up that's key, right. That's where people fail and think this isn't working for me.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 23:13
Yeah, I agree. I mean, absolutely. But, you know, I hear time and time again. And I remind people, because people told it to me. And my parents told us to me, no one's going to care as much about you and your career as you are.
Ron Bockstahler 23:33
So you
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 23:35
got to get into it, you got to lean into it, because it doesn't have to be 100% every day. But you've got to come back to that as your guiding your guiding post. And you got to lean into it, you got to stick your hand up. And you got to get comfortable. And I feel this way for particularly young women and men who are in large law firms, or mid sized law firms, you better get comfortable advocating for yourself or making asks, and I'm not saying coming out of the jump and saying I need a bigger bonus. If you don't have the hours, you know some good work done behind you mean you gotta get you got to learn your craft and you got to get your skills, you got to build up the ability to be like a legal ninja. But at the same time, you got to start sticking up your hand and asking for opportunities. What is the worst someone's going to say? No. Forget it fine. No, is just know for right now. It's not no forever.
Kirsten Mayfield 24:33
Did you ever have a fear of no or was this like, yeah, here? Yeah, all the time.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 24:38
But so what? I was like, no one's gonna do this. If I don't do it. If I don't ask, no one's gonna be thinking Oh, Corrine would like to do this. I can see her at the end of this conference table. And I know she wants this opportunity.
Ron Bockstahler 24:51
I think and I've been working for over 30 years, and I still have the fear no from time to time. So
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 24:57
yeah, I'm not saying like I love it. I haven't to
Ron Bockstahler 25:01
You mentioned committees, and I remember my first board position. And I think it was on that board for two years before I decided either get to get off the board or get involved. So I started joining committees. And it changed everything for me. I started getting involved with people differently. It was like, wow, why didn't I do this? from the get go? Yeah, raise your hand and advocate for yourself, get involved.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 25:25
But I think you raise a good point with that, Ron, I mean, you don't have to do it right away, you know, everyone's got an on ramp. And you've got to kind of get your sea legs, sea legs underneath you and kind of see what works, see if it's a fit for you. Right? If this, you know, a lot of times we join organizations, and we might not know, it's in the inner workings. But it takes a while. So give yourself grace to because this does not happen overnight.
Kirsten Mayfield 25:49
So where did you like start in? Like, how did you approach it, because as a person who's more of an introvert, I could see myself joining a committee and then going to like, or going joining a bar association going to like one meeting and one thing and being like, not getting myself in there. So how did you embed yourself into this bar association? Because you obviously did it? Well, you became a president. Right?
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 26:16
It's it. It was a it was a marathon, not a sprint. And that's why I say to really any lawyer, you know, you got to give yourself grace, when you're starting something new, or trying to advocate for yourself, you've got to get your voice and you got to get practice. But I was active and in more so going to events for the social piece, when I was a younger lawyer. And then candidly, you know, when I started having children, I mean, it was, um, Bar Association work went on the back burner, because there just wasn't enough time in the day for me as I saw it, and I did try to do at least one thing that was, or two things that were business development, networking every day, Monday through Friday, even through when I was, you know, expecting my children and on maternity leave. Did I hit every day? No, but I really tried to do that. So I had to take a little step back. And I have to say that if it hadn't been for my younger son, one of my younger sister, who also is a lawyer, she had just passed the bar and was just getting kind of into the Bar Association, because I had done it. And she was great. I mean, she would just show up, it was just after I had my third, my third, my third son. And she's like I saw, I'm in the lobby of your building. And john knows you're with me. So I'll see you in five minutes.
Kirsten Mayfield 27:41
She set it up for you. She was just like, You're coming with me.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 27:45
So that was a great, but it didn't take I mean, she had to do it maybe two or three times. And I was like, okay, she's right. Because I do remember, at the time, working in a large, firm, and, you know, just like standing outside my office bank, waiting at the printer, and just thinking, wow, everyone here is smiling and happy. And their hair is washed and
Kirsten Mayfield 28:10
the little things.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 28:12
And I kind of felt a little bit isolated. Now listen, that's all me, that's all me. But it was really great to get back and be active at the women's Bar Association because I went to these events. And I was like, these are my people.
Kirsten Mayfield 28:27
And you had a person in your life who knew it and she was like, driving for you. Because while you say, and it's great advice from your dad, no one's gonna advocate for you, basically, other than you. When you do build those colleagues friendships and obviously sisters, you're born best friends. Yeah, I mean, I've got an older sister. We're just Yeah, but once you build them, they do help you when you're you're not able to help yourself as much. So
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 28:53
yeah, you need a hype team. Yeah.
Kirsten Mayfield 28:56
That's a great way to have it. Okay. So checklist as a young attorney, build a hype team.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 29:02
You do and I'll make you easier and I'll help you be accountable. But like in a fun, nice way. Yeah.
Ron Bockstahler 29:08
Let's lead into why you are the president at the woman's Bar Association of Illinois. You are the bar celebrated 100 years of suffrage right women's rights to vote.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 29:19
That's right. We celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendments passage which gave women the right
Ron Bockstahler 29:26
to vote. And what did you do? That was outstanding. I know you work with other associations or the bars. Will you talk about toot your own horn a little bit about what you did there?
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 29:36
Well, so that year, we did a lot of partnering with bar associations not only at the local level, but at the national level. So we did a we celebrated the passage of the 19th amendment with a luncheon that we partnered with the black women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago And the Illinois state bar associations, women's group. And so we jointly put on the event. It was a full house. And we were lucky enough to have two federal district court judges engaged engage in a fireside chat. During the luncheon. It was Chief Judge Rebecca pahlmeyer. And judge Sharon Johnson Coleman. So that was wonderful. That was kind of the kickoff event, not so much for the 19th amendment, but just for the solidarity for the legal community. The women's Bar Association partnered with lag back and then Alliance Bernstein to put on the first diversity and inclusion, accredited CLE in Illinois, in July of 2019, around the issue of the law, and what it says and does and what it means for our transgender colleagues, not only lawyers, but just the transgender community at large. So that was, um, we were supported by the Chicago Chamber of Commerce as well. So that was really powerful partnerships. And then finally, right before, right before lockdown, we had a spring summit for women in the law. And we partnered with the American Bar Association's Commission on women in the profession. Do you have a day long event that Chief Judge palmyre hosted at the Dirksen building, where we tackled, you know, issues that are unique to women, as they matriculate through their legal career, and I kicked off the event moderating a panel that was that included Paulette Brown, who is a powerhouse and just a wonderful lawyer and person. And she is the Chief Diversity and Inclusion officer lac Lord. And Kelly Corley, who was just retired from the position of General Counsel for division, discover financial services located in river woods. And we talk about two women who, who live every single day, not even probably thinking about it now, trying to make the legal profession better, not only for women, but for everyone who's who is practicing. And regardless of where they're practicing, be a legal department, a law firm, public interest, a government entity.
Ron Bockstahler 32:36
So we only got a couple minutes left. So one thing I want to touch on and kind of get your input some of the younger attorneys listening is your How can we break the glass ceiling on women and minorities that are kind of getting started today? What can they do to maybe change the way it's been?
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 32:54
I think you have to stick your hand up and ask and then grab each other's hands and move together. Because together we will go farther, and not to I don't want people young lawyers to ignore their unique characteristics that they bring to the profession. So very important. But there's so much good that can be done if you reach across the aisle and grab the hands of other people who are similarly situated, or maybe not similarly situated to advocate for each other. Okay.
Kirsten Mayfield 33:31
So just one more question. Why did you go into that women owned law firm? Was it more organic? Or was it I want to be surrounded by like minded women in law?
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 33:47
Yeah, that's a good question to your son. I wanted to see how law was practice in a in a in a smaller setting. And it was very organic. The one of the founding partner, Stephanie Scharf, had been introduced to me by one of the at the time Chief Diversity Officer f law firm, where I was practicing Leslie Richards, Yellin, who was a wonderful, wonderful woman, a wonderful human being, that I'm very lucky to have ever had the pleasure of calling a partner. And they had a need, and I had a curiosity, and it was a fit. In that regard. I also knew that I was going to kind of be able to take my networking and my client book building skills to another level. I was doing it collaboratively with other women to kind of hone more of an authentic voice. That's not to say that I wasn't doing it authentically. I worked with a lot of men and that was, you know, listen, I had a lot of male sponsors. A lot of male cheerleaders at my firm. I have a cheerleader and my husband. So there wasn't anything I didn't think I could do, but I didn't do a lot Business Development with other women. And so I knew there was going to be a little bit of an, I wanted to know more about that. And I knew, in addition to being able to do great legal work at a boutique firm, I would be able to probably kind of deepen that skill and hone that skill in a different way. Which proven which proved to be the case.
Kirsten Mayfield 35:20
That's amazing. I, you know, you don't always think about these things. But it is very, like, it seems like if you get you started at a bar association, you started with women, you just put yourself into that world. And you said it was an organic move into something that allowed you to achieve, which is an awesome and goal working with your husband every day, being a partner with him. And I think that just it's lovely talking to people like you who are just showing the different paths, because I think when you're just trying to make it yourself, it would just seem impossible. So thank you for talking to us about it's, it's great to hear.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 35:59
Well, thank you for having me. And I just want everyone to know that I had a lot of setbacks. A lot of times it's a jungle gym, take five steps back 20 steps forward, two steps sideways, and you might fall off. But if you stay committed to putting yourself first and advocating for yourself, doing good work, learning your craft, of course, sky's the limit.
Ron Bockstahler 36:24
Let's, let's kind of finish up with our last question. What's the one thing in the business of law you'd like to see change over the next five years?
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 36:32
I want tech. And I know everyone who comes all your guests are saying mess. But I feel like from the estate planning world, I can say I want tech to be here to stay to help us be able to not only connect with our clients, partners, but connect with our clients. And I don't want in person to go away. But I want it to become completely normalized.
Ron Bockstahler 36:56
I think we're all on board with that. Definitely want to see that happen. I know just in my life. There's some things that the pandemic has actually brought you into my life that I don't want to lose a grade that I love working. I'm in my house right now. And I got five young kids, it a lot easier to spend more time with them when I'm traveling every day of the week. So a great,
Unknown Speaker 37:19
a great. Well,
Ron Bockstahler 37:21
Brian, what's the best way for our listeners to get a hold of you? I know most of our business is coming 80% of our business is coming from other attorneys. So let's how do we how do they reach out to you?
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 37:31
They can find me on our firm's website, which is www dot Walker law firm comm you can find me on LinkedIn at Karen Cantwell hagie Facebook at Walker law firm. And of course my direct dial 224-904-3895.
Ron Bockstahler 37:50
We do remember when the two to four numbers came out. I was like I don't want to do for number. I live in Chicago. Oh, I felt old. Thanks for joining the show. It's been wonderful having you really appreciate it. And we look forward to get back on the show sometime in the future.
Corinne Cantwell Heggie 38:06
Thanks, Ron. Thanks, Carson. And thanks for doing this podcast. I think it's really wonderful for the legal community.
Ron Bockstahler 38:11
Thank you. Absolutely. You can listen to the 1958 lawyer and we'll see you next week.
Unknown Speaker 38:18
Thanks for listening to the 1958 lawyer podcast. If you liked the show, tell a friend and please subscribe rate and review us on Apple podcast, Google Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to hear more about Ron person, or Amata go to a modern offices.com. All the links are also available in show notes.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai