Corrin Phillip
Corrin Phillip is an experienced employment attorney whose legal career has evolved through several impactful roles since she was admitted to the bar in 2013. After graduating from Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law, she began her professional journey clerking for a family law judge and later for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Demonstrating both determination and adaptability, she successfully passed the California bar exam while still completing her clerkship in Pennsylvania before relocating to San Diego to continue building her legal career.
From 2017 to 2020, Corrin practiced special education law, advocating on behalf of students with disabilities to secure essential services from school districts. While deeply meaningful, this work was also emotionally demanding, leading her to reassess her long-term professional direction. Following the closure of her law firm during the pandemic, she transitioned into employment litigation defense, where she now focuses on advising employers on policies, procedures, and compliance with California’s complex labor laws. In addition to litigation and counseling, she serves as an independent workplace investigator, conducting impartial reviews of employee complaints — an area of practice she hopes to expand further in the future.
Currently serving as Senior Counsel at her law firm and as Vice President on the Board of Directors for the Lawyers Club of San Diego, Corrin is committed to supporting ethical workplaces and advancing the status of women in the legal profession. Known for her thoughtful, solutions-oriented approach, she values helping organizations navigate challenging legal landscapes while fostering positive and compliant work environments. Through her advocacy, leadership, and dedication to continuous growth, Corrin continues to make a meaningful impact in the field of employment law.
• Admission to Practice
• Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law- J.D.
• Penn State University- B.S.
• Lawyers Club of San Diego
• California Women Lawyers
• Lawyers Club of San Diego - Feminist Bar Association focused on advancing the status of women in law and society
• Programming for International Women's Day and Equal Pay Day
• Fundraising and grants to local nonprofits providing legal services to victims of domestic violence and human trafficking
• Supervision to Aid Re-Entry Program
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the practical, clinical training I received in law school at Temple, which gave me meaningful real-world experience early on. Building strong professional networks through Lawyers Club of San Diego, along with my willingness to pivot when circumstances changed and my ongoing commitment to helping people, has also been instrumental in my journey.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say get involved in some kind of organization outside of just your work. I have Lawyers Club, and I know in San Diego we're very lucky to have a feminist bar association, but I think finding something outside of work where you can find your group of people is so important, because what we do is really, really stressful. Being an attorney is stressful in general, but being a female attorney, there's all kinds of additional stressors that are added on. So finding people who you don't necessarily work with to talk and kind of vent about what it is to be an attorney, and just to have that support system is so important. It's so much easier when you have people you don't work with to talk numbers and about what are people getting paid - that's so important because as females, we're not trained in how to have those conversations and how to advocate for ourselves, the imposter syndrome, all of those things. Unless you have a group of people outside of your jobs you can feel like you can speak freely, you start to realize, oh, this isn't just me, this is a systemic issue that I'm up against. I would also add to always pay it forward. I am always happy to lend an ear to any attorney or law student or college student who's interested in either my field or how I got here, how I pivoted. A lot of law students think they have to pick their path in their field and they're stuck with it forever, and so it can feel so overwhelming. Just give back and pay it forward, being a mentor or just helping each other. You can put your guard down, you don't have to compete. You'd be amazed at how many women would be open to having a conversation, even if that's all it is. It's not about what can I get out of this for me, it's more I've been through it already and I want to help you.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is navigating California’s complex and constantly evolving employment laws, along with the highly litigious environment that exposes employers to significant risk, including frivolous claims. At the same time, there is a growing opportunity in the increased demand for workplace investigations and preventive counseling to help organizations stay compliant and minimize legal exposure.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are empowering women, mentoring others, and paying forward the support I’ve received. I also strongly believe in collaboration over competition, helping people succeed, and advancing gender equity in my profession and community.