What is one of your favorite TCDIP programs or events?

The mentorship program is one of my favorite TCDIP programs. I’ve had the honor and privilege to get to meet, mentor, and learn from a number of talented and inspiring law students (and now lawyers).

What was one of your first TCDIP memories or connections?

One of my first TCDIP memories was attending the 2018 summer social at a rooftop in downtown, where I met two lawyers (one of whom became my boss a few years later and both of whom I now call good friends and mentors).

What is a piece of advice you wish you’d known earlier in your career?

 Each person’s career projection is unique and there is no one right way. So, it’s good to have short and long term goals but also okay to keep an open mind to certain opportunities that may deviate from your goals but may be beneficial for your career.

What work do you think still needs to be done to create more inclusive and equitable spaces in our legal community, and how do you see TCDIP working toward that mission? 

We often focus so much of our efforts on recruiting diverse talent but not as much on retaining such talent. The retention piece is a key part of making the legal field more inclusive and equitable. I believe part of the issue is that we often overthink about the retention piece. I don’t believe there is necessarily a special formula for retaining diverse talent.  There are three things that stand out to me as being helpful in addressing this issue:development, opportunity and mentorship.

Every lawyer—especially every new lawyer—needs to grow and develop their legal skills to be successful. In order to develop one’s skills, an attorney needs the right opportunities to learn from and experience. These opportunities come in different forms—but early in one’s career, they come in a form of meaningful, practical experience. People you work with—those who are invested in you—pull you into the right opportunities, mentor you, sponsor you, and guide you through these practical experiences so that you learn, grow, and attain meaningful experiences to develop and become successful in your organization and career. As such, in each of our respective organizations, we should think about how to best (and equally) develop, mentor and provide opportunities to our lawyers.