My Evening with Judy Smith...the real life Olivia Pope from Scandal

So, in my former life, I was a lawyer.   People always say I still am, but honestly, it has been over 12 years since I practiced at all, and almost 19 years since I worked full-time as a lawyer.

My old firm, Cozen O'Connor, invited me to an Evening with Judy Smith, the crisis management consultant who is the real-life inspiration for ABC's Scandal.  It was at the Kimmel Center on October 1st.  I almost never go anywhere without it being a child's sporting event, so I moved heaven and earth to make it there--it began with a cocktail party at 5:30, but I missed that, but I got there within 30 seconds of when she began to talk.   To be honest, I didn't watch Scandal before I got the invitation to attend in July, but I kind of caught up with most of the episodes from last season via late summer re-runs.

I love Center City, Philadelphia.  I lived at 16th and Locust for about 6 years.  This is the view I saw every day--looking north up 16th Street, with Liberty Place in the center (the glass-looking buildings).

My old apartment, the Versailles, at 16th and Locust.   Amazing apartments!

I had never been to an event at the Kimmel before, so I was excited to go--everything is just stunning there.

This is the view from the atrium looking upwards--the glass ceiling, with an apartment building in the background.  It is just a gorgeous building.

This is how Judy Smith started the lecture--she was very easy-going....I can see why she is where she is, and why she does what she does. 

   She started out at the podium by giving her background,  how she came to do what she does--which the basic message was--take advantage of life's events.   Soon, however, she got down from the podium, and started walking among the guests, including myself, who were hanging out in the back.  She had just a very easy way about her.

       It was a great night!  I stayed after her talk for another cocktail party, chatted with some lovely Cozen lawyers (some of them no longer with the firm), and was still home by 9 pm.   Definitely a really fun night for me.