Before launching what would become an illustrious legal career, Gloria Allred graduated from Penn with "a diploma in one arm and a baby in the other."
As a part of its Leadership Lunches series, Fox Leadership brought the renowned civil-rights attorney to the table in Leadership Hall yesterday for an intimate lunch and discussion of her career and education.
Allred, who spoke at the College's Commencement ceremonies in 2006, graduated from the College in 1963 with a degree in English.
She is perhaps best known for her involvement in high-profile cases such as the O.J. Simpson trial, the Scott Peterson case and, recently, Britney Spears' custody battle.
In addition to celebrity cases, Allred has also worked extensively on controversial cases involving virtually every type of discrimination.
"I do almost nothing that isn't controversial," Allred said. "Almost everything that has to do with giving people equal rights is controversial."
A self-described "take-no-prisoners, right-in-your-face advocate," Allred said helping the oppressed minority realize that they can "fight back and win" was her objective in undertaking divisive and contentious issues.
After a brief retelling of her life history, Allred answered a variety of questions from the students and administrators present and gave some bits of career advice along the way.
"Market yourselves at every opportunity" and "don't do what you don't know" were among her points.
She also emphasized how her education from the College of Arts and Sciences helped her career path, saying it was a "fabulous background" for any field.
College junior Annie Lee, a member of Fox Leadership's Steering Committee, thought that Allred's story was "inspirational."
"It was nice to hear that at the College of Arts and Sciences, even if you don't have a direct career path, you still learn skills that will help you wherever you go," she said.
College junior Miguel Garces also agreed that Allred's talk was inspirational.
"She's the person everyone wants to be when they're older," he said.
Some students were not as smitten by her speech.
"I think the work she does is important," College sophomoer Zac Byer said. However, he added that, although she stated that not many lawsuits were frivolous, many of the disputes she discussed went "above and beyond" the necessary attention.
Allred delivered her Commencement speech at Penn in the spring of 2006 in conjunction with her daughter, who was born while she was enrolled here as an undergraduate. Currently, her granddaughter is a freshman in the College.
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