Podcast Episode | The Rise of Anti-Semitism in Professional Settings and How to Stop It with James Pasch of the ADL

Posted on by Chris

Lawfully Employed with Host Chere Estrin

Special Guest: James Pasch

Episode Description:

When antisemitism shows up in the legal profession, it doesn’t just expose individual bias—it exposes institutional failure. And the uncomfortable truth? It’s not rare. It’s rising.
 
Chere Estrin shares a personal experience that didn’t just shock her—it forced a reckoning. Not fear. Not embarrassment. Anger. The kind that pushes you to stop ignoring what’s happening around you and start asking harder questions about the systems you’re part of. Because this isn’t confined to social media or politics. It’s showing up in law firms, in emails, in everyday interactions—inside a profession built on ethics, fairness, and accountability.
 
James Pasch of the ADL makes it clear: education alone isn’t enough. You can’t out-educate hate. And assuming institutions will “handle it” quietly? That’s exactly how it continues.
 
A few hard truths that stand out:
  • Every incident isn’t a statistic—it’s a person navigating their workplace differently because of it
  • Antisemitism isn’t staying in one place—it’s moving from campuses to boardrooms
  • Silence, delay, or “handling it internally” sends a message—and it’s the wrong one
  • Leadership doesn’t fail in big moments first—it fails in the small ones it ignores
And maybe the most important shift: This doesn’t change until people stop letting it slide. That means calling it out—even when it’s uncomfortable. That means documenting it—even when it feels small. That means taking action—even when there’s risk. Because “this too shall pass” isn’t a strategy. It’s avoidance. The legal profession has always positioned itself as a defender of rights. The real question is whether it’s willing to defend them internally with the same urgency.
 
 

You can also watch the full episode of Lawfully Employed with Chere Estrin and guest James Pasch here: 

 00:00 Introduction to the Paralegal Profession

02:51 Revolutionizing the Paralegal Field

06:06 Standardization and Accountability in Paralegal Roles

09:00 The Importance of Skill Sets and Career Pathways

11:48 Licensing and Certification in the Paralegal Field

15:11 Changing Mindsets and Leadership in the Legal Profession

18:05 The Future of Paralegals and Professional Development

 

#LawfullyEmployed #ChereEstrin #HuascarMatos #ParalegalLeadership #LegalProfession #CareerDevelopment #ParalegalCareers #IPMA #LegalIndustry #ProfessionalGrowth #RevolutionizeTheField

About the Author

Chere Estrin is the CEO of Estrin Legal Staffing, Editor-in-Chief of The Estrin Report, and an expert in legal career strategy. She is known for saying what most recruiters won’t. She has a new book, Power Plays for Legal Professionals: Strategies to Move Your Career Forward coming out this Spring. Reach her at: Chere@EstrinLegalStaffing.com. 

One Reply to “Podcast Episode | The Rise of Anti-Semitism in Professional Settings and How to Stop It with James Pasch of the ADL”

  1. This surprises me. When I worked in the legal field in Los Angeles, most of the attorneys were Jewish. I have been guilty of not liking Jews myself in the past because of bad experiences I’d had with Jewish classmates, Jewish bosses, etc.; however, I realize now that it is not right to be against all Jewish people because of my experience with a few of them. I am a Christian woman and feel we are all God’s people. When I learned about all the antisemitism going on on the college campuses, I wondered why the Christian organizations didn’t go out their and do the Christian thing and show their support for the Jewish organizations and students.

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