Her Story
About Patricia
I serve as general counsel for a state agency dealing with parole, a role I've held for the last year. No day is like the day before in this position. My responsibilities are geared by the situations or emergencies that come up with the work of the agency, which could mean being on phone calls or in meetings with the governor's office and lieutenant governor's office, dealing with employee matters since our staff is unionized, and reviewing policies and procedures. I touchpoint with our Executive Director and Chief of Staff almost daily to deal with ongoing emergencies. I try to wake up really early, like 5 or 6 AM, to do my personal passion projects, whether it's working out, doing devotional, or writing on the side. That allows me to start the workday feeling like I had a little bit of control, because my work day is really like drinking out of a fire hose. Before this role, I worked on legislation and policy in the criminal justice space in Springfield, Illinois, and prior to that, I litigated in the courtroom as an Assistant Attorney General in Civil Rights.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Patricia
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would emphasize that you can do it your way. A good lawyer, whether you're inside or outside the courtroom, whatever you choose to do, you can do it being uniquely yourself. You don't have to be the loudest in the room, you don't have to engage in some of the negative behavior that we see in pop culture when it comes to lawyers, or what those of us that have experienced it actually experience in the profession. You can be the fullness of who you are in this profession, and we want that. I know the journey getting to law and staying there is absolutely taxing on your mental. You question your intellect, you question whether you're getting it, you're questioning, did I make the right decision? Those of us that have faith in our lives, did I hear God right to tell me to do this? But I want you to know that you can flourish and develop into the advocates that you were meant to be.
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