Gayle Carr

I attribute my success to empathy, intelligence, intellectual curiosity, and being a fighter. These qualities have helped me become a zealous advocate for my clients while understanding the special needs that come with family law cases. My empathy allows me to meet clients where they are during the worst times of their lives, recognizing that they're vulnerable and struggling. My intellectual curiosity drives me to continue learning - I undergo additional education every year and have gone to conferences all over the country. Being a fighter means I advocate strongly for my clients, especially for people who don't have the means to do for themselves.

The best career advice I ever received was to never compromise your ethics. Never compromise your ethics. You can't get your reputation back once you've done that. This advice has guided me throughout my career and is something I hold as fundamental to my practice. It's the same advice I would give to others entering the field - don't compromise your ethics, because your reputation is everything in this profession.

My advice to young women entering this field is the same thing - don't compromise your ethics. Always, always look at a problem with compassion. Because really, people don't go to lawyers except for the worst times of their lives. Someone's dying, they're losing a house, they're losing their marriage, their child has an issue, they have a parent who's struggling - there's something wrong when they come to you, unless they're buying a house. So it's really important to meet them where they are and recognize that they're in a point where they are vulnerable and struggling. This compassion and ethical foundation will serve you well throughout your career.

The biggest challenges in my field right now are the increasing mental health issues that people are struggling with. There are more and more mental health issues, and it makes it harder to do my job. These challenges require even greater understanding and compassion when working with clients who are already going through the worst times of their lives, and it adds another layer of complexity to family law cases.

Public service is so important to me. Taking care of people who don't have the means to do for themselves and advocating for people who need assistance are core values that guide both my work and personal life. This commitment to public service is reflected in my pro bono work, which earned me the Honorable Anthony V. DiMeo Pro Bono Award, as well as my extensive volunteer work including serving as warden for the Borough of Litchfield and my 12 years on the Board of Education. I believe in using my skills and position to help those who are vulnerable and need support.