Erica Liu, previously chief of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit created in early 2018, was more recently promoted to deputy chief of the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey, supervising upward of 30 attorneys in four units. Beyond her prosecutions (including the case of a doctor "who called himself the 'El Chapo of Opioids,'" according to the office), Liu has frequently traveled to speak with officials and law enforcement on the opioid epidemic. Earlier this year, she led a nationwide Justice Department effort targeting a large health-care fraud operation. Liu, a first-generation American, previously was an assistant Essex County prosecutor.

What are your proudest professional achievements over the last couple of years?

It has been an honor to be a part of the United States Attorney's mission to combat the opioid crisis in New Jersey. Prior to assuming my current role as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, I served as the Chief of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit. I had the privilege of leading an extraordinary group of civil and criminal Assistant United States Attorneys who investigated and prosecuted opioid manufacturers, physicians, pharmacists, and others for the indiscriminate marketing, prescribing, and dispensing of opioids, and individuals whose street-level distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulted in death. I was also proud to represent my office in the Pre-Trial Opportunity Program, a federal court program that offers certain defendants with substance abuse disorders a potential alternative to incarceration through intense supervision and drug rehabilitation. Being involved in a program that gives individuals in the criminal justice system a second chance has been incredibly meaningful.

What has been your experience with diversity in the profession, and how does it factor in to your day-to-day work as an attorney?

I have been lucky to work for organizations that recognize the importance of diversity. But, as an Asian American woman, there is always room for more representation in leadership. As lawyers, our unique backgrounds and life experiences shape how we handle our cases and the ways in which we present those facts to diverse jury pools. Lawyering in public service requires that we not be myopic, but rather be open to thinking outside of our own box.

What can organizations employing lawyers do to better address diversity?

Effectively addressing and furthering diversity requires not only hiring diverse qualified applicants, but also giving them opportunities to be leaders within the organization. No matter what type of law we practice, we are tasked with the difficult job of upholding the law and championing our clients, whoever they may be. Making sure that diverse viewpoints and contributions are present and felt throughout an organization requires diverse leaders, which cannot be accomplished without intentional and consistent growth opportunities along the way.

Name a mentor, or someone you admire, and why.

I have had many incredible mentors, supervisors and colleagues along the way who have provided me both support and inspiration to be a better lawyer and person. However, it all started with the late Honorable Joseph A. Falcone, a Superior Court Judge in New Jersey that I clerked for after law school. Judge Falcone was the epitome of integrity and expected all lawyers who appeared before him to be prepared, both personally and factually. Judge Falcone played such an important role in my career and I will never forget all that I learned from him.

What is your best advice for someone looking to make an impact in the legal profession?

Though everyone's path is different, I believe there is no greater calling in the legal profession than public service and I have been fortunate to spend 13 years prosecuting both violent and white-collar crimes. Whether it is acknowledging an assault victim's experience, seeking justice for the family of a homicide victim or prosecuting an individual who threatens our health-care system by committing millions of dollars of fraud, there really is no greater way to use your legal education to positively impact people's lives.