Employer: Katz, Marshall & Banks
Title and Practice Area: Associate, Employment Law

What was the most valuable lesson you learned in your first year practicing law? Being a lawyer requires skills and knowledge beyond what law school teaches. It's important to listen to and learn from colleagues and mentors, as they have likely faced the same challenges which might now seem insurmountable.

Describe your biggest win or accomplishment in practice.  I am proudest of my work on the legal team representing Christine Blasey Ford during Justice [Brett] Kavanaugh's confirmation. There were many moving parts and we were working under immense pressure, yet we successfully helped our brave client give her important testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee and the public.

Who is your greatest lawyer mentor and what has he or she taught you? Debra Katz has showed me how to be a zealous advocate for my client while still being a good person fighting for positive change in the world. As a budding civil rights lawyer, I could have no better mentor.

Please share a brief key to your success.  Law is as much about people as it is about legal concepts and arguments. Understanding your client, the opposing party, opposing counsel, and everyone else involved is as integral to a successful outcome as having done your best legal research and writing.