3 Questions with Janelle Romero, Host of The Law Is Ours

Follow The Law Is Ours on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

When did you begin sharing your employment law expertise on TikTok? What about that routine has made it so worthwhile?

Janelle: I made my first videos in August 2021. I had recently been hired to lead my firm’s expansion in discrimination and harassment employment law, and we were experimenting with different forms of marketing. At the time, lawsuits were being filed against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for sexual harassment. I made a few videos on TikTok breaking down the allegations and his responses, and they were surprisingly well received. I received a few emails from people who were looking for an employment attorney to assist with their own sexual harassment and discrimination claims, and I realized that this was a great way to be able to help a lot of people. Over the years, I’ve had many jobs since then, some of which my TikTok didn’t really do anything to help, but people continued to comment on my posts with their questions. So, I continued to make videos answering those questions as best as I could without providing legal advice. Staying consistent with my posts has afforded me so many amazing opportunities and connections that I wouldn’t have had without social media, such as “The Law Is Ours” campaign with the NYC Bar, and I’m grateful for it.

What drew you to being part of this campaign with the City Bar?

I believe knowledge is power and have dedicated my online presence to that mission. Through the NYC Bar, I’m excited to be able to provide information to people in the U.S. that has been collected, scripted, and reviewed by attorneys to provide a reliable, nonpartisan review of the rules in this country. I’m so excited that the NYC Bar has taken on this initiative to defend the rule of law.

If you could look every law student and lawyer in the eye and encourage them to do one thing, big or small, what would it be?

Say yes to more things. Attend events where you can meet mentors who will take you places you never considered possible. Take on projects that expand your experience or credibility. Don’t get so pigeonholed into being a lawyer that you forget to expand on the other parts of you that make you someone people want to work with.