[My dad is] my hero and my first mentor. I liked the concept of the intellectual rigor. My dad, even when he was in private practice, did a lot of pro bono work and some really incredible work for underrepresented communities. He represented somebody on death row and people whose civil rights had been violated. I thought the practice of law could be both intellectually rigorous and exciting while using a skill set to help other people.

I watched my father in court in pro bono cases where he exuded confidence. He represented a clinic that provided abortion services that had been bombed and where protesters were threatening people going in and out. He owned the courtroom and gave them a voice, making them feel empowered and important. Seeing the judge give them respect convinced me this was what I wanted to do.

My practice focuses on representing corporate clients facing government investigations. I handle internal investigations when there might be an accounting issue or misconduct, and I represent clients in negotiations and in defending the company during government inquiries. I often join trial teams to help try civil cases. My pro bono work on the Criminal Justice Act panel is the hardest part of my job, but the most meaningful.

A clinical in my third year of law school representing indigent defendants was transformative. I wanted to be involved in the criminal justice system. I am a believer in the justice system. It is imperfect, but it remains the best in the world, and you need strong advocates on both sides. I set my sights on becoming a federal prosecutor and did that work for ten years.

Law is a deeply human experience. With pro bono clients, their life and liberty are on the line. Another title for a lawyer is counselor, and I feel that responsibility—helping clients through a terrifying system while being a zealous advocate. Guidance must consider not just legal issues but also business and personal factors. The perfect legal answer may not be the perfect solution.