Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
Ice Miller LLP
Indiana University Maurer School of Law
Why did you decide to enter the legal profession?
While working an internship with the DNR with the field scientists, I got pulled into a lawsuit related to a conservation area. At a certain point, the work to preserve that area was taken out of the hands of the scientists and left to the lawyers. That experience helped me understand that I could have the most impact by becoming a lawyer and advocate who could address environmental issues.
Why is DEI important to the legal profession?
The business world has long had data to support the proposition that diverse teams obtain better outcomes for stated goals than those that are more homogenous in composition. Diverse teams help individuals challenge their biases and overcome stale ways of thinking to sharpen performance and obtain better outcomes. Of note, diverse teams focus more on facts, remain more objective, encourage greater scrutiny of actions, assist in keeping cognitive resources sharp and vigilant, and lead to more awareness of potential biases or entrenched ways of thinking that can lead to overlooking key information or errors in the decision-making processes.
Why has DEI become so controversial?
I think people have lost sight of the mission, to provide equal opportunity and diversity of thought, and that the goal is for all of us to advance together by acknowledging that we all have gaps in our opportunities and awareness.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Do all things as if for Christ Jesus and remember all things worth having cost something. Don’t make excuses for your mistakes or failures, which will happen, but understand that those failures, and your acknowledgment of them, will be the building blocks for long-term success.
What advice would you give to young attorneys?
Identify what key or main things are important to you. As you advance in life and your career ask yourself what impact a particular move will have on your non-negotiables. Understand that choosing what is best and central to your life may not lead to the same path forward as others, but it will be one that you can be proud of and will bring you far more joy and longevity than the alternative.
How do you spend your free time?
Spending time with my family, reading, and in nature. Keeps me grounded.
What was your favorite – and least favorite – class in law school?
Least favorite class was Civil Procedure. Favorite class was Constitutional Law.
What does “diversity, equity and inclusion” mean to you?
It means recognizing that all people are bestowed with inherent dignity, value, worth and unique gifts, and deserve to have equality of opportunity.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.