Influential Woman · Maryland Judiciary

Sierra Miles

Senior Judiciary Clerk, Maryland Judiciary

Easton, MD

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Easton High School Degree Graduated with honors Degree Chesapeake College Degree Associate's Degree in Criminal Justice

Her Story

About Sierra

I've always been interested in criminal justice since I was young, watching all the cop shows and lawyer shows on TV. I debated going to law school for a long time, but ultimately chose not to, though maybe one day I'll get the courage to go back. I started off interested in forensics, but quickly realized that wasn't going to be something I wanted to do, so I transitioned more to the legal aspect of the field, the law, and courtroom operations. While in college, I did internships with the Talbot County Sheriff's Department and did ride-alongs with officers 2 to 3 times a week for 4 to 6 hours at a time, just to see what they did on a day-to-day basis. I started with the court in November 2020 as a court reporter, then moved to the clerk's office in October 2021. I've basically fallen in love with criminal law and all the things I do on a day-to-day basis because every case is different, every person is different, and it's never doing the same thing over and over again. I am a very dependable coworker and person that attorneys definitely rely on, and I build relationships with people so much on a day-to-day basis, whether it be with attorneys, customers, people in the community, or people in our judges' chambers.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Sierra

01What do you attribute your success to?

I think my biggest accomplishment is how quickly I've moved up in my office. I am the youngest one in my office, I'm only 23. I started here when I was 21, and I was promoted within a year of moving to the clerk's office. I have been given a lot of responsibility in my role, and I am a very dependable coworker and person that attorneys definitely rely on. I build relationships with people so much on a day-to-day basis, whether it be with attorneys or with customers or with people in the community, with people in our judges' chambers, all throughout the place. So I think that's probably my biggest accomplishment.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

My best advice would be to keep adapting with how the law is changing, because it changes, especially if you want to stay on the legal side of it. Watch how the law is changing and be ready for change, because that is something that I have had to get used to very quickly in my job. We get new laws every year, we get new procedures that we have to adapt to so often. So if this is a career that you are looking to get into, you definitely have to be ready to adapt and to change and to work in a fast-paced environment. So I would just be prepared for that.

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