Her Story
About Nicole
I've been in the legal field for 7 years now, and I currently work as a conflicts attorney for Taft. Basically, I'm a lawyer for the firm itself rather than someone who sees clients. I handle the internal issues that come up with the model rules of professional responsibility, draft waivers, and authorize what we call ethical screens to make sure that the firm is in compliance. My journey into law started when someone very close to me went to prison, and I watched that process play out. That's really what influenced me to go to school and initially start with criminal law. My first legal job was with Legal Aid, and honestly, working for them was an eye-opening experience. But I also was aware that I should make a little bit more money and also simultaneously help people. So I transitioned from criminal law to corporate, but I feel like with pro bono opportunities, I'm still able to help the target demographic I would want to, but then at the same time be compensated fairly. I was a conflicts attorney at my previous firm as well, but I was THE conflicts attorney - I was the only one, I did everything, and it was super overwhelming. Now I'm part of a great team of women, and honestly, all the conflicts attorneys are women. Having a team where I can ask people questions has 100% helped me. I went from juggling a bunch of different things to really just handling very specific things and having resources that I had never had before.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Nicole
01What do you attribute your success to?
Besides God, I would say my family were very supportive of me. I'm the first person in my family, really, to go to college and have the career and all of that, and my parents were always there for me. Anything that I needed, any resource, anything they needed to show up for me, I've always had that support. So I think having really involved parents shaped me to be the person that I am today.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Honestly, I would say, just to be flexible. I've never imagined I'd be a conflicts attorney. Like, it's so random. It's not something that I went to law school thinking I'm totally gonna do this. It kind of just fell into my lap, but I was open to new opportunities. I feel like as women, we have all these expectations, you must do this, you have to do this, you have to do that, that we're very... we can be very rigid, because we feel like we're being judged so much. But it's okay to follow your instincts, and take chances, and try something new. I'm happier now than what I was before, and I had no idea this was even the path that I would take.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say loyalty is very important to me, because I am a very loyal person. I'm someone that you can trust, you can depend on. So I really value that and other people's loyalty. I also really value logic, I guess I could say. Logical responses. Things making sense. I just feel like we're in a society now where anything goes, you can just say whatever based on emotions, there's no facts behind it, there's no proof. That's really important to me, especially in this time. And I'm gonna say leading with love. I think that it's okay to be mean right now, and I think being nice, being a good person, having good character, that goes a long way. People will remember you for being a good person. And then you're blessed more when you're a good person doing good things, not spreading negativity.
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