Associate Attorneys at our law firm are recent law school graduates who have passed the bar or are an attorney with a few years of experience under their belt. Currently, eight of our twelve Associates at Watts Guerra are females. These female Associates are breaking down barriers in the legal field and walking down paths that trailblazing females before them have paved.
Read about some of the trailblazing female attorneys at Watts Guerra here
For this year’s Women’s History Month, we thought it would be inspiring to get their take on their time as an attorney thus far in their careers. They all come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences which can hopefully inspire current and future generations of attorneys in the years to come.
How It Feels to Be a New Attorney
Being a new attorney at a law firm, whether you have a few years of experience or just passed the bar, can be intimidating. The years of schooling and training have all led up to achieving your ultimate goal of helping others, but the real work is actually just beginning. Most of our Associates have a common feeling of excitement coupled with fear about being a new Associate at Watts Guerra. For Kelsey Abbey, she describes being a new Associate as, “both exciting and scary”. She expanded further and said, “the world of new opportunities is exciting but the imposter syndrome and fear of messing up are inevitable and part of the learning curve”. Many of our female associates struggle with the fear of imposter syndrome and making mistakes, but they know that allowing themselves the space to improve over time and asking others for help can alleviate that stress. “I step into each day ready to learn from those around me. Mistakes will happen but learning from those mistakes is what will continue to shape me as a new attorney” Hailey Watts elaborated.
Struggling with imposter syndrome? Read what one of our attorneys had to say about it.
Hailey, Grace Holland, and Illiana Parker all felt their childhood dreams came to fruition because they have worked towards this goal for many years. “There’s this entirely new world of what it means to be an attorney that I’m trying to grasp bit by bit to not get overwhelmed” Illiana stated. She went on to say, “The hard days when I’m full of doubt and all the feelings swarming my head in this new phase of life, I just call my ‘growing pains’. They’re necessary and won’t always be there, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy or painless”. Julie Matsen put it best though, “You’ll hear the phrase ‘drinking out of a fire hose’ to describe how it feels to be a new attorney – that’s because it’s accurate”.
What is Your Favorite Thing About Being a Female Attorney?
As of 2022, approximately 40 percent of lawyers in the United States were female1. It is encouraging to see that number grow year over year, so we asked our females what their favorite part about being a female attorney is. 
For Bailey VanNatta it was the opportunity to disrupt the still male-dominated field. “In many of my cases, I am the only female attorney on both sides of the case. I have the opportunity to continue the legacy of the female attorneys that have come before me and to create a path for the female attorneys that come after me” she stated. Hailey agrees that females are often underrepresented and underestimated and strives to prove that they are every bit as capable as the men in their profession, “I enjoy surprising a group of mansplainers with the unique perspective women bring to the table” she added.
There is a community that female attorneys embrace that Kelsey and Illiana enjoy being a part of as they navigate their new roles. “The female attorneys I know are champions for each other and truly want to see other female attorneys succeed. Because of the strong female mentors, role models, and leaders in the legal field, I can see clearly how we can achieve and accomplish justice for our clients” Kelsey explained.
What Strengths Do You Bring to the Courtroom and What Makes You Different from Other Attorneys?
Since females are still not common in the courtroom, the skillsets they bring to a case can often help change the outcome in the courtroom. Grace, Illiana, Hailey, and Chloe Shrode all hone in on their communication skills to help relate to others. “I believe a huge strength for me is how I am comfortable speaking with others in and out of the court, including juries, with ease” Chloe stated. All of our female attorneys are able to think quickly and problem-solve with whatever is thrown at them.
These strengths of communication and resilience help differentiate them from other attorneys. “I am an extremely resilient person. When things do not work out, people have a tendency to give up or dwell on the negatives. I think I have a very good ability to look at an unfortunate hand of cards with a ‘what can I do about it’ mentality, and I believe this is an advantage in the world of law with all of the inevitable obstacles that come with it,” said Hailey. Bailey also relies on her grit, “I think it is best summarized as my ability to pick myself back up again when things go wrong; to never give up on what I have worked tirelessly my whole life to achieve”.
Kelsey agreed while also adding her own opinion, “I think every attorney brings something different to the table. I tend to not fit the mold of a traditional trial attorney per se. I am reserved when it comes to work and like to be a peacemaker, so conflict is not my favorite (shocking that I chose to be a lawyer). I think this allows me to see both sides of a case and helps me effectively craft arguments for our clients.”
What is Something You Have Worried About or Struggled with Concerning Your Profession?
Female attorneys battle different worries than their male counterparts. Grace worries about being able to manage her career and a family in her future as her life progresses but looks to other women at Watts Guerra for comfort when that time comes. All of our Associates worry about being taken seriously while also battling imposter syndrome. “I feel like I started two steps behind my young male colleagues simply because I am a woman” Bailey explained. Hailey expanded on that concept, “An unfortunate number of people still have a subconscious bias that women are inferior—especially in this kind of work. I worry about this in regards to clients seeing me as less capable than my male peers simply because I am a woman.”
Julie echoed Bailey and Hailey’s concerns but stated while at times, it does seem like you have to fight to be taken seriously, especially as a younger female attorney, “that’s not my experience while interacting with other Watts Guerra attorneys”. Kelsey agreed and said, “I never want to let my gender dictate how I feel in the workplace. Thankfully, Watts Guerra has many female attorneys who have gone before and mentored me as I joined the profession. They have set a brave example of what it looks like to be a female trial attorney and I am excited to continue learning how we as females can continue to fight for justice for our clients.”
To read about how Watts Guerra female attorneys balance motherhood with their careers, click here.
Do You Believe There Are Boundaries You Have to Break Through Being a Female in Your Profession?
All of our female attorneys agreed that being female in the courtroom is a constant battle they have to face in order to fight for their seat at the table. “The last vestiges of the ‘boys club’ mentality are still alive and well in the legal profession, but as more and more women join the bar, the less power the ‘boys club’ has,” Julie stated. Chloe went on to say how this male-dominated field provides women hurdles, but thanks to the women that came before her, they have “smoothed the path”. Hailey echoed, “It is pretty cool that we even have a chance to do so thanks to the decades of trailblazing women before us”. Kelsey concluded that any job will have boundaries, but thanks to the women before them, there is luckily no ceiling.
Who Do You Look Up To As a Mentor In Your Profession?
Being a newer attorney can seem daunting but having someone help guide you along the way can make sure that you are set up for success. For our female Associates, they attribute their success to Partners at our firm setting aside their time to mentor them in their new roles. “It’s rare to have the privilege of being mentored by so many people with different styles who all have the same goal of getting the best out of me,” said Julie. Kelsey echoed Julie’s sentiments and also shouted out Partner Rebecca Page who helped oversee her when she first started as a Grasshopper, law clerk, at the firm. “She laid the foundation for me as an attorney, and I am forever grateful for her impact on me so early on in my career.” Partner Erin Rogiers also has had an impact on Kelsey, “She always takes the time to graciously explain the ‘why’ behind every step of the case. She is the perfect balance of tenacious and gentle and she can tear apart a witness without them even realizing it!”
Hailey also looks to another trailblazing attorney at our firm, Partner Alicia O’Neill, as inspiration. “Alicia has made a seat for herself at every male-dominated table. Rather than seeing other women as a threat or competition, she insists there is room for more alongside her. I look up to her as the best role model to teach me how to carry myself as a woman in a world historically dominated by men.” Hailey explained. On top of Alicia, Hailey also has family to look to for guidance as a new attorney. Her father, Mikal Watts, and grandma, Judge Sandra Watts, serve as foundational pillars for her career. “I look up to my grandma as an absolute trailblazer for women in law.” Hailey’s father just so happens to be one of the Capital Partners here at Watts Guerra, but Hailey has only ever seen him as a great lawyer, and an even better dad. “He never misses a thing, and he has always been the most present and fun-loving dad a kid could ever dream of. My dad constantly models how to show up and outwork anyone, and that it is totally possible to do so while prioritizing a family.” Grace is like Hailey when it comes to having family as mentors. Her father is also an attorney and is someone she can always turn to. “He always has my best interest in mind,” she said.
All of our attorneys at Watts Guerra have someone to turn to when they need a helping hand. Whether it be a Partner within the firm or a family member who is close, our Associates will always have a seat at the table and an opportunity to succeed.
What Are Your Goals for Your Career and What is a Piece of Advice You Would Give to Your Younger Self?
Our female Associates have goals and a relentless work ethic that will not stop them from achieving them. Their various backgrounds have all taught them different life lessons but have brought them to a common career of helping others. When asking each of them what their goals were, many said they hoped to continue to improve to be a better asset to each case they are assigned while also growing in the confidence of their work to lessen their imposter syndrome. Kelsey summed it up perfectly for them all stating, “Being so early in my career I think my goals will continue to change, but I hope to make a positive impact on as many people as possible. My desire is to advocate and serve as a voice for those who need one.”
Lastly, we asked them for one piece of advice they would give their younger selves. Although it varies for each person, the main theme for all of them is to be more gracious to themselves. Grace, Kelsey, and Illiana would want to tell themselves to not worry as much as it will all come together. Illiana added, “I was so worried about the future that sometimes I would forget to be grateful for where I was. The unknown and uncomfortable are terrifying but that’s where we learn the most.”
Julie would provide insight into her time in law school, “The friendships you cultivate in law school are so much more than the networking opportunities you will have in your first few years of practice. The friends and professional connections you make will also become your support system.” Bailey, who Julie met at Baylor Law School, had empowering advice for herself, “Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you’re too young or inexperienced to succeed or make a difference. You can do anything if you have enough nerve.”
Although these Associates are just beginning in their careers, they have big dreams and audacious, but attainable goals as attorneys. Through the help of their support systems, they know they can achieve anything they put their mind to. “I truly believe female attorneys can press on because of the brave women who paved the way for us in the legal field. The respect for women in the profession will only continue to grow and I am honored that we as young attorneys get to continue carrying the torch for future generations to have their spot in the courtroom” concluded Kelsey.
We are thankful to have such a strong, intelligent, and resourceful group of Associates join us and cannot wait to see what they do in their careers. We will be alongside them cheering them on every step of the way!
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