Her Story
About Patricia
Patricia A. Libby began her legal career in 1987 and went on to build nearly two decades of experience as a litigation attorney in Los Angeles. She later transitioned into legal education, serving as a law professor for 12 years. During her academic career, she developed and taught a course in pretrial practice and discovery at the USC Gould School of Law for five years, combining her practical litigation experience with her passion for developing the next generation of legal professionals.
Today, Libby serves as Chief Learning Officer at AltaClaro, an experiential legal training platform dedicated to providing attorneys with practical, skills-based education. In this role, she oversees curriculum and instructor programs, supervises legal editors, and contributes to the development of innovative AI-powered simulation tools designed to help lawyers strengthen their litigation skills, transactional knowledge, AI proficiency, and critical-thinking abilities. Her work reflects her belief that meaningful professional development requires deliberate practice, realistic scenarios, and opportunities to receive constructive feedback before lawyers face high-stakes situations.
Throughout her career, Libby has remained committed to mentoring and empowering women in the legal profession. She encourages women to recognize their expertise, trust their judgment, and communicate their ideas with confidence rather than qualifying or minimizing their opinions. She believes that professional growth comes from being willing to speak up, take initiative, and embrace opportunities to develop new skills. Through her leadership, teaching, mentorship, and work in legal innovation, Libby continues to advance a more practical, confident, and forward-looking approach to professional development in the legal field.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Patricia
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women entering my industry to believe in themselves and trust their expertise. Too often, women second-guess themselves or hesitate to speak up because they are afraid of being wrong. I encourage them to be confident and assertive in expressing their ideas without diminishing their perspective with phrases like, “I don’t know if this is a good idea.” Instead, clearly communicate your opinion and the reasoning behind it. You have worked hard to get where you are, so recognize your value, speak with confidence, and never be afraid to make your voice heard.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I see in my field is the gap in critical thinking and professional skills, particularly among younger professionals entering the workforce after COVID-19 and amid the influence of social media. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our work, it is essential that professionals know how to critically evaluate its outputs, verify sources, and determine whether the information makes sense within the appropriate context. At the same time, I see tremendous opportunity in using AI to enhance professional education and development. I am particularly excited about creating AI-powered simulation tools that can provide practical training opportunities for lawyers who may not otherwise have access to sufficient hands-on experience.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.