Susan Cohen

" A exceptional women are everywhere some make headlines and others make things happen quietly. In their lives and in the lives of the people they love. An exceptional women are trying to find -- your neighbors and your friends. And we want you to meet him. Good morning I think gain -- and you're listening to a regional music. Written and performed by this week's exceptional. And."

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" Meaningful music. Songs that my guest says spring up when she -- moved in her heart is touched. Music that comes from feelings and emotions she cannot express except in song. I'm writing music and performing. Is only part of her story recognized for excellence in her field by her peers Susan Cohen is not just an exceptional woman. She is an exceptional immigration attorney a tireless advocate for immigrants seeking political asylum. Here in the United States she told me she sees amazing strength and courage such endurance and resilience throughout her work. I wanted to hear some of those stories and listen to some of her inspired music and know more about this exceptional woman. Born and raised in New Jersey Susan came here to Boston to attend Brandeis university and never left I asked her to tell me about her favorite childhood memory."

" Family times playing music on the beach with guitars and singing he would go to the beach sent my uncle's place among Ireland and its Arab. Place up in Connecticut in the Berkshire's act which set around the living room where is that guitars and we -- and playing music and singing old folk songs like -- country and so music always meant something to you from the very beginning in my life I remember music being in the house and singing and my father teaching me how to whistle even when I was just -- a little tiny little her own. How the music stay in your life over the years we just check out local musicians in New York City and we would always be hearing people play and going coffee houses sent. Listening to a lot of the folk music of the sixties you know Joan Baez sentenced heat seeker and the -- and that kind of music and signs that they sang about -- often the recurrent themes of social justice and that really was very resonant and my family and then I grew up with -- you know being in -- particularly by my mother with a very strong sense. They need to give back to the community in which you are living and try to help other people says I can't tell you how many women have sat right in that chair where you're sitting today exceptional women. Telling us about the influence of their mother that their mothers where such role models at a time perhaps when moms didn't think they had that many options and probably didn't even think of themselves as role models is that your case. It absolutely is my case my mom and actually became mom and dad to me because. My dad left when I was fairly young. And my mom I -- dust and I was the youngest psyched up to spend the most time with my mom and she. Just native Simi sealed knowing how it probably wasn't that offer her. But she as a wonderful upbeat person and she always had incredible confidence in me. She always told me all the time you can be anything you want to -- you think you could beat president Sunday. And -- she just was my biggest cheerleader that really did a lot. To boy -- me up when I was growing up and to give me confidence has a girl when you're a kid how did you picture you're grown up life what did you think you're gonna do what did you want to do you know I I really -- have a definite view of what my future was -- when I was coming up but I always thought that it would be happy. And I thought that I would make a mark somehow on the ground I just -- and that kind of coalesced Jeremy after college when I decided to go to Moscow. What led to law school and why are you a lawyer you know I I thought a lot about what can I do with my life where I can make a difference in other people's lives and also have a degree of intellectual satisfaction from myself because Santa and the life of the mind is really really important but you need to combine that with the -- for the community and helping other people. To try to find the balance in my life between you know the intellectual stimulation and being a lawyer and that. Every day satisfaction of helping people. I'm an immigration -- so I work with people and everything that I do is about helping people achieve. One of their you know their calls which is to stay in this country."

" This is exceptional women you're missing a magic won -- six point 7 on the Sunday morning. I'm gay -- in the spotlight today immigration attorney Susan Cohen. And we'll find out more about her music and her inspiration leading to many of the songs on this news CD. In just a moment. Susan when you decided on law school -- if you worked hold you'll be able to be a lawyer and have a family at the same time you won't have a life outside of the office. Because I've heard that law firms especially at a few years ago maybe when you were starting out. We're pretty tough on women what was it like when you first entered the field and can you tell us a little bit about hopefully the positive news that things have changed now -- take me back a few years what was that first year. Working as a as a lawyer line."

" I work at it and slat -- which has some people may know was one of the larger firms in Boston. At big corporate law firm and when I started there in 1985. The women we're starting to filter into the classes of lawyers joining the -- more than in the prior years but it was still not even half and half it is definitely a and it was then at challenging place to try to rise up as a woman but there were a few women ahead of me who had made their market the famine even become partners of the fact what happened when I joined the families that. I thought I wanted to do one thing. Which was speaking live Decatur and fight it out in court. And I learned after doing that for a few years that in fact it wasn't what I really wanted to do -- what I wanted to do I decided was to develop an immigration practice at my friend which did not exist at that time. Because I I had. Been exposed to immigration month before I even went to law school working as a paralegal and I saw the the positive effects that hat on the people's lives that I dealt with when I was even just apparently -- I wanted to suggest to my friend. The idea a concept that Alan -- could do immigration line even though big -- at the time didn't to Susan what happens you decide to send. Out a memo -- meeting a -- of gay partners -- law firm and say hey I've got a great idea but you have to remember my mother always gave me Atlantic accent. So I was very passionate about my idea and I said to my firm to some of the senior managers and my friend the managing partner and some of the people who were all -- at the time and that and this great idea. That could be a win win for our friends we could bring in a lot of business for a lot of clients into a lot of good at the same time. If you would just give me your budget and the ability to learn this cult and become an expert and -- and give me enough money second by illegal library. I was just so enthusiastic and so passionate. The fact is they really didn't have a choice they they couldn't -- first shot they said yes. First -- they say yes that was how many years ago that was back in about 198687. And how long before people started really knocking your door finding out this is the woman we want to turn to for help -- took me a couple of years to really gain all the expertise that they needed to at least start bringing in clients I want it to really know what I was doing before I would. Hang out a shingle so to speak and say that I affirmed did immigration -- but it didn't take long held a seminary my firm aware I invited people to come and learn and see what we could do for them and people came. And I actually got a very big client as a result of that very first seminar and then one thing led to another and I was on my account for quite awhile and then I added apparently -- And more in my business came in and is able to bring in a lot of clients. And and I needed another person to help Maine and another lawyer and -- yet another apparently gone and I needed another liar one thing led to another I worked part time -- my family working part time in a way building up a business like that from scratch gave me the opportunity. To start a family because there wasn't enough business yet. When I was just starting out to drive me crazy with where that came later and now your family is grown I'm guessing. Yes I have my youngest sign of two boys and they my youngest is just going into twelfth grades so we've come. A masterful cycle can you say to young women today. That they can have it all and be a lawyer and rise up through the ranks and have a family absolutely they can it's not easy. As women I think we have to work. Much harder than their male counterparts in business settings have to be willing to roll up your sleeves and work really hard but if you're willing to do it in your passionate about what you do and what you want to have in your life. Both professionally and in terms of your family and as a mother it can be done definitely I'm a living example."

" Will exceptional women are indeed role models if you offer advice to a young female lawyers starting out. That lawyer is one lucky woman and I -- mentor earning a young women lawyers are coming -- and now women lawyers make up at least half of all the classes that join the firm's effort here. It's really half and half sometimes more than 50%. Mintz Levin immigration attorneys Susan colonies this week's exceptional woman you're listening to magic won a six point seven. I'm -- Vernon you can find out about her work. And also her brand new CD proceeds going to the political asylum immigration representation. Project. She's very passionate about this city who go to their website pair project dot org that's PK IR. Project. Dot org you'll find out more about that. In just a moment and I want to know now Susan why immigration law was there one specific person or one specific case when you're a paralegal that turned you onto this field yes there was a particular case when I was a paralegal with that guy from El Salvador in this was in the early eighties when there was a lot of civil unrest. In El Salvador. "

" Who had applied for political asylum in the lawyer I worked for mishandling his political asylum case and I got to work on the case and I got to know him and it's to participate really really intensively. In his case including going to have a hearing a participating in the hearing and one thing that struck me the most was that the interpreter in the immigration court wasn't interpreting him. Correct. And every word makes a huge difference and so I actually intervened in that case even though I was a paralegal to say. The interpreter missed a few really key words and interpreted them incorrectly which changed the home meaning of -- His life would be endangered if he had to be returned to el -- I really was struck by how every detail in this kind of case. Make such a huge difference what kinds of issues. Are happening today with immigrants are that the same are most of the people that you talk with. Trying to live in America because of unrest because of being persecuted at home or is it a different story. People come to United States still for a variety of different reasons the majority of my clients are our businesses and companies that are employing people from all over the world a lot of Americans. But some people who brings special skills. Or knowledge that is just not available here and that the companies need to get the -- to work done and and also so that we can stay competitive. With the rest of the world but there's unrest in the lot of countries in the world and unfortunately I think it's always going to be that way because we see different. The course of history that. Regimes horizon father a lot of dictatorships still. Among a lot of countries around the world and people are persecuted for things that we. Take for granted in this country you know if you see an injustice here and you want to speak out about it nothing will happen maybe someone will disagree with you -- not gonna get arrested and and thrown into jail. Just for speaking your mind about an issue -- there are a lot of places in the world where people have fled from and half com. And sought refuge in the United States in the people. Could do make here are really extraordinary in and of themselves are a lot of people who actually don't make yet -- free terrible situations and other countries and the ones that do making here and they can't hear they need to find some kind of legal redress because they don't want to be illegal of the people they want. Desperately to be illegal they don't want to be looking a potential -- candidate they've been through trauma. Many of them have been tortured and many of them have spent years in jail and finally were able to escape. And get here one way or another and Susan I know you're very involved with an organization that helps people like that. It goes by the name of hair the political asylum and immigration representation project. And I'm very honored to. And privileged to serve as the president of the board of directors of that it's a nonprofit based in Boston what parent does is it serves as a clearinghouse for people who have legitimate claims that the silent. Who have been persecuted because of perhaps their religion their political belief their membership in a in a group that singled out in their particular country for persecution for whatever reason it helps those people who have claims for asylum to be matched up with lawyers in the Greater Boston area who are willing to cancel their cases. Pro Bono for free so pair is a place that pairs up. These are worthy people who have fled terrible situations and deserve their case to be -- with lawyers who will help them for free how has your life been altered been changed been inspired by some of these people that you're working -- I have to tell you that. Says the clients that I have met through the -- organization. Half touched me in ways that. Are so deep and so move thing town never beat the same after having worked on cases with these people and most of them are very close to me to this day even after. You know 1520 years ago working on their cases I've done a lot of asylum cases time com. Radically. All lied and inspired. By the strength that these people show in the face of incredible adversity what they've overcome. One of my clients lost all her siblings and parents in the genocide in Uganda and she's the."

" Only one left in her entire family. They were gunned down by a rebels. And it's she's the only one left off her whole family has gone that she was able to overcome. That. In her life. And be inspired in fact by me and want to bend. Become a lighter herself and she's been studying at paralegal school and she's gotten married and she's one of my heroes my -- clients. Become my heroes. They are. What keeps me going every day. They inspire me beyond words."

" Named in the 2008 edition of the best lawyers in America -- recipient of many awards for her work with immigration issues. Susan Cullen of Mintz Levin. Is my guest this morning on exceptional women and good morning this is magic won a six point seven might be time for that second cup of coffee. I gave Byrne and Susan you were talking about being inspired by these women not only do you hear their stories and you work with them on a day to day basis but I can tell after listening to your new CD they also inspire you musically as well they have indeed well."

" This organization called -- celebrates. Its twentieth anniversary. In 2009. And so now. I thought when it fitting should be -- it would be if I could do something with my music and help disorganization at the same time and so I decided to cut my first CD. I've -- and I writing songs since I was about fifteen. In many of the songs are actually inspired by this -- that I have for people who have overcome incredible obstacles and somehow. Managed to find the strain. To not only. Move on with their lives but to find joy again and their lives and so I I had a body of work I decided to make is CD accounts of wonderful people to help -- I just released it to correspond with the twentieth anniversary of the organization and we're -- coming from that in just a few minutes but how can our listeners tapping into that in and get a copy that's -- Well thank you for asking and -- is at www. Hair project dot awards and all of the proceeds are going to benefit hair and hair really needs all the help it can get because. It relies on volunteer contributions to do the work it -- it's a nonprofit so let me just list."

" The things that you do you're a busy person -- your wife a mother a lawyer you head up a nonprofit organization of finding time to sit down the peace and quiet needed to compose music athletes sounds like you're too many hours -- day for you to do that but I do you know that I read. That you do have a special story about how you word given that time and how you were able to sit down and concentrate on your music and what -- solace. It turned out to before you can you share that with us."

" Well it just so happened that on September 11 2001. And I had a business meeting. And across the street from the World Trade Center in New York City for -- one of my corporate clients. And I was on my way to that meeting that morning when everything happened that day and I was very very close to the world trade centers and I saw. Attacks with my own eyes they it was a really quite an unbelievable day. And I was caught up in everything that happened inside New York City that day. So needless to say it was quite. Affected by everything I saw and experienced. I was somewhat traumatized and need a little bit of time off after that. To try to process when they'd seen and miss Lebanon is a wonderful law firm and they were very understanding and said that I could take some time to try to regroup. You know it happened as a result of that is meant to them."

" Make creative juices started to flow after a little bit of time went on and I. Resuscitated my songwriting carrier and I wrote some songs to process what had seen. Including the heroism that I saw displayed that day and the unbelievable way that people came together to help. Every one who was affected by the tragedy of September 11. As a result I wrote some songs that are fun."

" Eight years have gone -- and how do you think about that -- now when I think back to September 11 I think the things that I think about our. How sad. It was that this happened. How."

" Tragic it was that so many you know unsuspecting people lost their lives that day. And that so many other people were affected dancing with the families of all these people friends and families. A -- innocent victims of the September 11 attack but the positive aspects of it. By the way that we came together as a community to respond to what happened and again I and just really impressed by their resilience. That is just in the core of so many people that I see in the face of tragedies like September 11 and the things that happened to people. In other countries that result in them having to flee and come to this country for refuge for protection for safety for so there's a positive. Aspect. A tragedy and that is how people get through to the other side. After something terrible happens and come together and learn from that and I like to focus on the positive."

" Another reminder you're listing the magic one -- six point 7 on this Sunday morning nine gave -- and this is exceptional women. And Susan Cohen is my guest this morning an exceptional woman who used her lifelong love folk music and the way a song can tell a story to get her through some dark times. She's an unsung hero to so many immigrants to America. She's used her brain power and her compassion to help someone gain their freedom it doesn't get any better than that Susan we ask all of our exceptional women a couple key questions what is the greatest obstacle. That you never face and how did you get past it. I think in in my personal life."

" Greatest obstacle was finding. The hours in the day. To do everything that I want to do with my life the way I got -- it was to becoming credit -- well organized which took me many years to learn to be able to manage my time so that I can have all aspects of my life and lived my life the way. It's important to -- to live out what's on your must do list for this year I have to play a few gigs. Share my music with more people and that's really fun to have my music get out into as a into the greater world now and be circulated and I hope that the message in the messages of some on my son's well. Resonate with with the listeners. Who get to hear it and look forward to being inspired by more people that I want me. And -- writing new songs and as opposed to the next calendar year. Are from. When it's safe for me to go to them one of my clients was originally from Somalia which has people probably -- a fairly war torn country but he is from the northern part of Somalia which is now called Somali land. And he is one of the people who is fighting for statehood. For the northern part of Somalia. And -- he came to this country in 1990 was 64 dollars in his pocket. And ended up finding me and I became his asylum where we weren't asylum for him and then he ended up. Going to Harvard Business School graduating many years ago he's a very successful executives now with Citi group. He is building up Somaliland because he is now making a good living he's needed he's. He's actually constructed an orphanage and -- and he has invited me to Somaliland so I would like to contact at least if not in the next year may be the next -- here would you say that you -- a balanced life. Yes I think I'd do. You know it's not easy balancing family. And husband and to work and carrier. Tend to music but at the moment it's working pretty well it seems to me like these are all pieces of the puzzle and without one of them. Everything else might suffer its chance and that's really important to try to find balance. And it's not something that you always find. Every month -- every year. But I am feeling fairly balanced right now and very happy and really happy with my musical career at them until I'm writing new songs that just wrote a new one. Two days ago and so I feel like the the songwriting is really flowing and that makes me very happy so that makes me feel very very balanced and I have creative outlet is music balancing with my life --"

" This morning the exceptional women spotlight is shining on Susan Cohen she's one of the top rated immigration attorneys in the state. She's also at the current board president a -- the political asylum immigration representation project. You can find out more by going to -- project dot -- Susan I'd like to go back to something that we touched on earlier in our conversation we were talking about. Influences on your life you talked about your mom a lot I'm wondering who else might have played an important role was there a mentor are perhaps a teacher in my case it was."

" mother and my grandmother. My grandmother and was one of the first women to graduate firm Barnard College in the early nineteen hundreds. A very very strong women -- she refused to believe an obstacle since she was a very strong woman in the early money's it was a very very dynamic one of the things that she always taught me as my mother did was that you know. If you want some thing. You'll find a way if you work hard enough to try to achieve it and don't let any mandolin anybody else say no to you. And and stand up for yourself and she taught me that my grandmother. And I think my mother learned it from her. And my mother taught it to me and I'm doing my best to mentor other women coming up through their ranks with the idea -- that you know we really can do. Just about anything. It could put him links to. Susan do you have a constant source of joy. My family is definitely a constant source of joy to make ends and my clients in the relationships with my clients mean the world to me and my thanks to."

" Use Susan -- for being this week's guest on an exceptional women Susan is a woman who has devoted her life's work. To making a difference in the lives of immigrants. Imagine waking up in the morning and knowing that today might be a day that you help someone in their quest for freedom in their hope for a new life here in the United States. If you know someone who has overcome obstacles -- beaten the odds in the toughest of times. -- works tirelessly for her community we'd love to hear that story just get in touch with us go to our website magic 1067. Dot com. I'm gay Vernon please join my partner candy unitarian meet every Sunday morning at 730. For exceptional women -- radio portraits of women who will inspire you."