Every March we like to recognize and celebrate the women that work at Watts Guerra on our website and social media platforms. Last year one of our most-read blogs on our site was the article on The Trailblazing Women of Watts Guerra which highlighted our female trial attorneys at the firm. Since it was such an inspiring and successful piece, we thought we would go back and interview our lady lawyers again!
In 2024 our law firm underwent a collaborative and strategic restructuring, and we have now become Guerra LLP! So, while this post applied to our previous namesake, some things will never change, like our unrelenting work ethic. With decades of experience on our staff that you are familiar with, our team is remaining steadfast in our mission to continue to fight the good fight for our current and future clients.
We have female trial lawyers who have various degrees of experience ranging from those who are still at the beginning portion of their attorney careers to others who have been practicing for years and are seasoned vets. They spared a few moments during their work-filled days, sat down with us, and shared their experiences as well as advice they have gained through each stage of their journey as an attorney.
Inspiration for your Career as an Attorney
The process of becoming an attorney takes years, but the appointment to make this your career path can happen in an instant. Meredith Drukker Stratigopoulos and Jennifer Neal both experienced their inspiration when they were first exposed to the legal field. Meredith had two female lawyers guide her throughout her formative years in middle and high school. They showed her that it is possible to embody poise, grace, and resolute strength in a male-dominated field. Jennifer was working as a file clerk at a law firm in the early 2000’s on the Accutane case. At the same time, the firm was going through the tumultuousness of having a new United States Supreme Court judge appointed and the implications it has on the future validity of our dockets, our rights, and the law in general. The attorney she worked for explained why everyone fought about which judge would be appointed and explained both sides of the bar to her (plaintiffs versus corporate interests). From that moment on, she knew that she was hooked on plaintiffs work and was never turning back.
Attorneys Rebecca Page and Alicia O’Neill had life experiences shape their career path. Rebecca was working as a forensic investigator when a horrific infant case sparked her desire to demand justice for those who need it the most. She knew she would make the greatest impact as an attorney and decided in that moment she would attend law school. Alicia’s inspiration came from experiencing the loss of a friend. One of her friends was a victim of a violent crime when they were teenagers. This tragic event steered her to turn one of the worst moments in her life into a career to serve others so she could help people and give back to the community. While she grew on her career path as an attorney, years later she was able to see justice delivered for her friend by a colleague who took the confession of the man who murdered her friend. She was finally able to receive closure because they could facilitate finding the body and bringing her friend back home to be put to rest.
Biggest Challenge You Have Faced
To be successful in any career, you have to learn how to properly manage your time to ensure that all your tasks are completed. Managing the needs of daily life along with a steady workload is the biggest challenge the majority of our attorneys face. Shalimar Wallis and Alicia O’Neill are both moms who try to be as present as possible in the lives of their children. Shalimar states that trying to balance her professional career with the needs of her children is a constant struggle that often leaves her feeling like all sides are short-changed in some way. In the end, she says, “everything always works out and the struggle is worth the rewards of being a mother and setting an example for my daughters of what is possible”.
Rebecca and Jennifer also find it hard to find a work-life balance. Both are still early in their attorney careers and are still trying to figure out how to properly allocate their time. “Attorneys face a high rate of substance abuse and mental health issues in comparison to the general population. Managing stress and including the time to unwind is particularly important to their field of work” explained Jennifer. They know that this will be a continuous struggle the rest of their careers but striving to master this balance will help them become successful in all aspects of their lives.
Meredith is challenged by the changes that COVID-19 has inflicted on the legal industry. The restrictions that were enacted for the safety of the public have prevented her from going to trial, attending in-person hearings, traveling for depositions, or meeting with clients. This is a bigger challenge than she could have imagined, especially during these first formative years as a lawyer. However, she is not letting the pandemic deter her growth and has decided to face it with optimism and motivation to keep on progressing in her career. “These years as an associate are invaluable learning opportunities, and I, alongside everyone else, have had to adjust so that I am still growing and learning as much as possible.”
Most Fulfilling Part of Your Career
A case in the litigation process can take years before a resolution is made. During that time, countless hours of hard work are invested by the attorney for their clients. For many of our attorneys, the most fulfilling part of their career is when they are able to finally provide justice for something that has caused their client so much loss. “The most fulfilling part of my career has always been speaking up for those who would not have a voice in the legal system. The relationships I have made with my clients, helping them in their darkest hours, gives me a sense of purpose” Shalimar explained. Rebecca shares the same sentiment and went on to explain how COVID has made this process even more impactful, “The years of litigation (and now longer due to COVID-19 causing the postponement of trials) a client has to go through brings a variety of emotions out for them. When a client can finally relax and put the lawsuit behind them, there is a bittersweet moment that occurs.”
Jennifer shares that client satisfaction is her most fulfilling part of her career as well because she loves the look on the client’s face when the verdict or case is settled in their favor. However, she says a close second for her is “when you lay the smoking gun document in front of a corporate representative during a deposition”. Meredith also loves seeing reactions from opposing counsel when they realize that the jury is going to rule in our client’s favor. And for Alicia? She loves all of it.
Standing Out in a Male-Dominated Field
“Don’t show weakness and don’t back down” is Jennifer’s motto. She has been frequently left out of emails from male defense counsel as they default to corresponding only with male attorneys on the pleadings. After she catches it, she reminds them that she is the handling attorney on the file. For all the female attorneys, when it comes down to it, they rely on just being themselves in order to stand out. Rebecca’s advice is to just stay true to who you are and your style of practice will earn you respect. Alicia piggy-backs off of that and says that she never tries to be more serious, mean, or strong than she usually is. However, if she knows that she is right, she will not let anyone back her down.
Shalimar has battled this male-dominated legal field for almost twenty years now as a practicing attorney. She knows through experience that earning respect is achieved through hard work and, ultimately, results for your clients. On top of that, she emphasizes how you should always be respectful and compassionate to those you work with, whether opposing counsel or your own legal team. “We all have a job to do but showing kindness to others along the way is always a good idea.”
Fortunately, the number of women getting involved in the legal industry is consistently on the rise. “Times are changing. Women lawyers have everything to gain thanks to the incredible work of female lawyers who paved the way before us (including those who work at Watts Guerra). What I have learned from often times being the only female and usually the youngest person in the room is to truly believe you belong at the table” Meredith explains. She believes if you truly believe you deserve to be there, the rest will come naturally. That is because you end up putting in the hard work which allows the rest to follow.
Advice for Your Younger Self
Hindsight is always 20/20 and when our female attorneys were asked about what advice they would give their younger self, there was a lot of reminiscing. Rebecca and Jennifer both advise to believe in yourself and do not compare yourself to other lawyers. This will help you avoid imposter syndrome and exude confidence so others can’t help but believe in you. Shalimar expands into greater detail with this by stating she would advise her younger self to stay the course and let her work speak for herself. “It is easy to get weighed down by negativity, whether that negativity comes from opposing counsel or a colleague, pay no attention and keep marching forward,” she said.
Meredith’s advice was to ask more questions, hold yourself to the highest standard, and don’t cut yourself slack. She goes even further stating that she would tell herself to “Bury your ego. Don’t excuse your mistakes or gloat in your successes. Own them and move forward because there is always more work to be done” Alicia’s advice was simple, “Enjoy it because it all goes really fast!” She also gave two mottos she has grown to live by during her 18 years as an attorney. One is if you are choosing between putting on a police officer and a firefighter, always put on the firefighter. Her other motto? Wear sunscreen.
Advice for Female Attorneys
When we asked them the five pieces of advice they would give to other female lawyers, each attorney provided something that could easily be implemented into daily practice:
- “Just do the work and be patient. You will establish yourself with time.” – Rebecca
- “You never get what you don’t ask for, so ask for opportunities. Ask for a seat at the table. Ask to take a witness, to cover a hearing, to lead a mediation. Every yes is an opportunity to prove yourself” – Meredith
- “Network, network, network. Networking can provide you with referral sources. More importantly, if you are struggling to establish yourself, networking gives you the opportunity to build a relationship with a mentor, or better yet, a sponsor. A sponsor not only provides mentorship, but is also willing to help promote you in the industry, providing recommendations, and opening doors for your success.” – Jennifer
- “Work hard every single day and study the women who have been there longer than you. Most importantly though, be kind to one another.” – Alicia
- “Blaze your own trail and just ‘do you’. You will be infinitely happier in this profession if you stay true to who you are rather than allowing yourself to be molded by what others have done or your perception of what others want you to be.” – Shalimar
The female attorneys that work at Watts Guerra are smart, relentless, resilient, and are not afraid to challenge the status quo. Meredith summed it up best when she broke down why our attorneys do what they do. “We represent individuals who are injured, harmed, or grieving a loved one. Every time I show a mediator, a judge, an expert, or a witness what happened to our clients, I am reminded and can see the light at the end of the tunnel that justice will be served.” Our attorneys are strong females who are shaking up the legal industry and facilitating change, one case at a time. They are unstoppable and ready to take on any challenge that is presented to them.
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