“I love guiding attorneys through periods of transformation. As they advance in their careers, my clients’ challenges increase in complexity. Working together, we leverage their strengths and my knowledge of industry best practices to refine their leadership approach so that they and the teams they lead flourish.”
Susanne has a deep passion for shepherding lawyers and legal professionals through career transitions and refining their effectiveness as leaders. She draws on her profound understanding of the challenges they face — gained from over three decades of legal industry experience — to empower them to achieve even greater levels of success. Clients value her creativity in designing unique strategies to reach their goals and her ability to handle sensitive situations with nuance and compassion.
As a credentialed coach heavily involved with legal industry associations — like the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) and the American Bar Association (ABA) — Susanne is uniquely positioned to deliver actionable insights.
Education & credentials
- University of California Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), JD
- University of Michigan, A.B., American Culture
- International Coaching Federation, Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
Professional background
- Right Management, Senior Consultant
- Golden Gate University School of Law, Associate Dean for Law Career Services & Alumni Relations
- Law Offices of Michael Sorgen, Associate Attorney
- Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, Legal Assistant
Memberships
- State Bar of California (inactive)
- National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
- ABA Career Center, Advisory Board member
- International Coaching Federation (ICF), Oregon Charter Chapter, former board member
- Oregon Women Lawyers, Member Advancement Committee
Selected Presentations
- “Optimizing Your Performance Evaluation for Career Advancement,” moderator, ABA Career Center, October 17, 2024.
- “Teaching the Business of Law (and Why Lawyer Salaries Vary So Greatly),” co-presenter, NALP Professional Development Institute, November 30, 2023.
- “Charting the Path: Guiding Law Students and Lawyers Through Self-Assessment,” co-presenter, NALP Annual Education Conference, April 26, 2023.
- “Stop the Surveys! Getting Quality Feedback Through Focus Groups and Interviews,” NALP Professional Development Institute, December 2, 2022.
- “Why Associates Stay or Leave: The Coaches’ Perspective,” NALP Annual Education Conference, April 8, 2022.
- “Extinguishing Imposterism: Strategies for Legal Organizations to Minimize Unwarranted Self-Doubt and Cultivate Excellence,” Oregon Women Lawyers, February 16, 2022.
- “Using Powerful Questions to Lead Your Career Success,” Keynote presentation, Oregon State Bar Leadership Institute, October 8, 2021.
- “Transitioning from Traditional Lawyer to Consultant,” ABA Career Center, Februaryu 8, 2021.
- “Successfully Navigating Career Crossroads at Midlife,” Oregon Attorney Assistance Program, November 2, 2018.
- “The Coaching Mindset: Improve Work Performance with the Power Of Questions,” Multnomah Bar Association, May 2018.
Selected Publications
- “5 Things Successful Job Seekers Do,” ABA Career Center, August 20, 2024.
- “Moving in Place: Four Steps to Creating More Satisfaction in Your Current Job,” ABA Career Center, August 20, 2024.
- “Strategies for Prioritizing Well-Being in Attorney Job Searches and Career Development,” Skip Horne and Susanne Aronowitz, Law Practice Today, July 15, 2024.
- “Considerations for Lawyers Who Work in Different Jurisdictions from Their Employers,” Susanne Aronowitz, Sarah Hadjimarkos and Diana Mercer, NALP Bulletin, January 2024.
- “Can You Answer This Crucial Interview Question?” ABA Career Center, May 22, 2020.