Alma Saravia of Flaster Greenberg in Cherry Hill has left her mark in state government, not only as a lawyer but also as a policymaker. As director of the Division of Mental Health Advocacy, she represented the interests of those committed to psychiatric hospitals, and she also was Gov. James Florio's designee on the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners. In private practice she represents health-care professionals in licensure and other matters, and, on the policy side, has been deeply involved with marijuana legislation in the state and continues to influence policy as a lobbyist, including lobbying efforts on behalf of advanced practice nurses. She also has been active in professional organizations and community involvement.

Objectively, what key moments or accomplishments have defined your career?

During my tenure at the Legislature, I served as the executive director of the Commission on Sex Discrimination in the Statutes, where I spearheaded the enactment of the first Domestic Violence Act, obtaining new child support obligations through the Probation Department, the enactment of factors for alimony, rehabilitative alimony, child custody and equitable distribution of property as well as the state's Family Leave Act. As the director of the state's Division of Mental Health Advocacy, we filed class action lawsuits to close down the children's hospital and to create a program for deaf patients who were deprived of basic sign language services, among other abuses. In private practice, I have advocated for the right of advanced practice nurses to perform their profession without unnecessary restrictions. Most recently, I have been involved with the medical marijuana and adult-use legislation.

Subjectively, what are your proudest or most personally satisfying achievements?

My proudest achievement is the enactment of almost 50 bills recommended or endorsed by the Commission on Sex Discrimination in the Statutes.

How is success best achieved and sustained?

Success is best achieved and sustained by working with all interest groups and agreeing to “disagree” on some items. Additionally, it is achieved by persevering to get legislation enacted even if it does not contain all of the provisions hoped for. The law can always be amended to strengthen it. Change is incremental, and possible without losing sight of the bottom-line goal.

How are the business and profession of law changing, and are New Jersey lawyers well-positioned for the future?

The use of technology is both a blessing and a bane to attorneys. The internet age has resulted in new ways of communicating with clients and colleagues. However, it is easy to forget about the importance of personal relationships developed through activities such as the New Jersey State Bar Association. Younger lawyers may not develop collegial relationships with their peers and judiciary if they are focused on the screen in front of them!

What advice would you give to someone contemplating a career in law, or someone whose career in law has not been satisfying so far?

I always ask the person if he or she is entrepreneurial. Practicing law is running a business while providing competent legal services. Many lawyers are excellent attorneys, but they are not adept at operating a law firm. I also ask them if they know what type of an attorney they wish to be—i.e. working in government, legal services, at a law firm or perhaps in house. I find that someone who is “fixed” on a set area without any experience in the law, may foreclose himself or herself from unknown future opportunities which would be rewarding and satisfying. I have had three distinct legal careers which I never contemplated when I attended Rutgers Law School in Camden night after night, while working at the Legislature. When Gov. Florio was not re-elected, I knew that I had to reinvent myself again. Gov. Florio had appointed me to serve as his designee to the Board of Medical Examiners. This interesting and previously unknown area of law appealed to me, so I decided to become a health-care attorney representing physicians and other health-care professionals before the licensing boards. I joined the American Health Lawyers Association and after many lunches and meetings with lawyers across the State, I was hired by Duane Morris to establish their New Jersey health-care practice. The lesson for young attorneys is to believe in yourself and to look at your career as a continuum. There are always new opportunities around the corner if you are willing to do the hard work of finding new ways of practicing law.