Elizabeth M. Scott, partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld

Experience:

• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, 2009–present
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 2008–2009
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Mississippi, 2007–2008

Education:

• UALR William H. Bowen School of Law, 2007
• Hendrix College, 2004

What drew you to a career in law?

When I was a child, not only did my mom work as a teacher, but she earned her J.D. and juggled motherhood with work and the rigorous demands of law school. For bedtime stories, she would read law books to me, and I remember being fascinated with the subject from as early as six years old. That planted the initial seed, but watching her devote her life to helping others through the practice of law is what really helped grow my passion.

Have you set a specific goal that you want to achieve in the next year?

I believe that no Dallasite should go hungry if the means to feed him exists. Akin Gump's Dallas office has a long-standing relationship with the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), a hunger relief organization and one of North Texas's largest charities. I am dedicated to helping the NTFB achieve its goal of providing access to 92 million meals annually by volunteering, soliciting corporate donations, and encouraging my peers to join the fight against hunger. Specifically, I am currently serving as a member of the organization's Harvest Event Host Committee, helping to plan one of its largest annual fundraisers. Over the next year, in addition to making sure that my firm and partners continue to contribute to the NTFB financially, I plan to also organize service days that will allow us to roll up our sleeves and connect with the mission through hands-on projects.

What has been your proudest career moment and your biggest hurdle?

One of my proudest moments as a lawyer also happens to be one of my biggest hurdles: in September 2017, I worked with co-counsel and a team of Akin Gump lawyers in scoring a landmark win at the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for Trinity Industries, Inc.—a longstanding firm client that I've worked with for years. To work with this incredible team over the past several years and not only win a massive victory, but overturn the largest judgment in FCA history, is absolutely an all-time career high for me.

Where do you fit on a 1-10 work-life balance scale with 10 being nirvana? Please explain.

Honestly, as a working mother in a highly demanding field, some days I can boast a 10, and other days it feels more like a 1. I think oftentimes working mothers feel like they have one foot in each camp, and it can be challenging to find the balance. I think the trick is understanding that you may not find balance in every single day, but when you look back over a month or a year, there will be times you gave more to your career on one day and then more to your family on the next. For me, one thing that has worked is developing a nontraditional sleep schedule for my toddler that allows her to get the same total amount of sleep as is recommended for a kid her age, while staying up a bit later in the evenings so that I can spend extra time with her when I get home from work.

What is the top quality that you've used to succeed in the profession?

If I had to choose one, I'd say tenacity. Once I've set my mind to something, there's no going back. That doesn't mean that I haven't faced my share of challenges, because I definitely have. It just means I get back up more times than I've been knocked down. For me, keeping my eye on the ultimate goal helps me keep that unrelenting focus.

Who is your favorite mentor and why?

Without a doubt, it would be my colleague Michelle Reed. She is a fierce litigator and co-head of the firm's cybersecurity and data privacy practice. She maintains an active pro bono practice and serves as a mentor to junior lawyers, all while being an amazing mother to four young children. Her balancing act is awe-inspiring, and she has truly played a pivotal role in my growth as a lawyer and a new mom. One of my favorite things about Michelle is that she gives advice “from the tap” without pretense or concern for anything other than my well-being. Her counsel is truthful, practical, and always uplifting.

What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?

I've been blessed with excellent mentors over the years, but something my grandfather taught me years ago sticks with me, and that is to never make a mistake – twice. This advice has resonated with me because it recognizes that humans are inherently flawed and will make mistakes. Ultimately, that is how we grow. Personally and professionally, people will forgive you for honest mistakes, especially when you take ownership of your actions and learn from them. The idea is not to be perfect, but to understand that when you lose, you should never lose the lesson.

What trends are you observing in the profession that you're excited about?

One trend that I am seeing in the legal industry is the rise of the flexible work schedule. Advances in technology have made it possible for lawyers to be accessible to clients anywhere, anytime. Many firms, including Akin Gump, have incorporated this idea into their benefits packages, allowing for flexible work options like flexible/reduced hours and telecommuting arrangements. This allows lawyers to be evaluated by their material contributions and service to clients. Gone are the days where merely occupying an office for 12 hours makes a person a dedicated lawyer.

What is the greatest challenge you see for the legal profession?

As the legal market evolves, practitioners of all types face new challenges. From the law firm perspective, one of our growth opportunities is to continue to find ways to improve efficiency and provide clients with greater value. Clients are increasingly looking to their law firms for creative solutions beyond the billable hour and are steadily bringing work in-house. This represents great opportunity for firms and lawyers who are willing to innovate. However, advances in technology mean that the profession is changing rapidly, and that requires all of us to not only be great lawyers but also visionary business leaders.