Her Story
About Denaya
I'm a transactional attorney who has been practicing for about 5 or 6 years. I graduated from American University, Washington College of Law in mid-2020. Before that, I was in law school, volunteering, and things like that. My passion to help others, especially those who are creative and passionate in their own efforts but maybe don't have the time or the knowledge or experience to handle the legal matters, is what inspired me to get into the legal field. I always saw myself as being that person that could serve as a resource for them. On a typical day, I'm definitely talking to and meeting with different clients, assessing their needs, and providing counsel and advice to help their matters move forward. I do a lot of research and a lot of writing - that's simply my day-to-day. Some of my values are definitely transparency and being a diligent advocate, making sure I'm able to explain things to people in ways that they can understand to make their day a little easier.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Denaya
01What do you attribute your success to?
I definitely attribute my success to my village, just supporting me and motivating me and providing me with anything I needed in every endeavor. Having that good support system really helped.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The biggest piece of advice for me was definitely to stay informed. For me to stay on top of my game to make sure that I can be the best leader for people. Another good piece of advice was to make sure you have a good network.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the challenges in my field is sometimes it's challenging when people don't - I have to give an answer regardless, but if it's not the answer that they hoped for, or if they're just kind of not giving people the ideal answer that they're looking for. Not to any fault of my own, just because that's the nature of the work. I hate seeing people disappointed, though.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Some of my values are definitely transparency and being a diligent advocate. I make sure I'm able to explain things to people in ways that they can understand to make their day a little easier.
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