Describe your career trajectory.
The law became personal to me at a young age. I grew up in a small border town in South Texas with a single mother, as my father was incarcerated. Society shames those who are incarcerated. I want to become an advocate for change and be more than a statistic.
Believing education is power, I earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies with a minor in English. While in college, I became very involved in HeForShe, a solidarity movement for the advancement of gender equality, initiated by the United Nations.
Just before graduation, I interned as a legislative aide for a Texas representative, which exposed me to the inner workings of state government and the transformative power of law in everyday life. The representative offered me a position as deputy district director for the 74th District, which enabled me to work with the community on a personal but higher level.
I have begun the application process to attend law school while working as a practice support team specialist at Husch Blackwell. A legal education, together with the experience I have gleaned, will provide the foundation I need to help others as I work to improve the problems within the judicial system.
Why have you chosen to make your career at Husch Blackwell?
I selected Husch Blackwell due to the firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. I’ve not seen other firms who have embraced them to this extent. The firm accepts, lives and breathes my core values, which was crucial in determining whether it was the right fit for me.
As a Latina, I’m involved in the firm’s HB Women and HB Unidos employee resource groups (ERGs). Being a part of these groups makes me feel like I’m seen and heard in a safe environment. It also has benefited my professional development as I was able to attend the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) Corporate Counsel Conference, where I made important connections across the nation as well as within the firm, such as HB Unidos Co-leader Catarina Colón, who is a role model to me. The experience was transformative and underscored the importance of lifting up the Latino/Latina and Hispanic community in the professional world, which Husch Blackwell does by providing opportunities for people like me.
What is one thing that makes Husch Blackwell special?
The sense of community. We value individual needs, work collectively to get the job done, and uplift each other while doing so.
How has Husch Blackwell supported you in achieving work/life balance?
For one to perform well, one must be well. Husch Blackwell values and advocates for mental health. The firm caters to individual needs as our lives progress. For example, I have a hybrid work schedule and have been given the flexibility to work in the office two days per week.
Do you serve any nonprofit organizations that assist Latino/Latina or Hispanic communities?
I am serving on the planning committee for HNBA Region XII’s upcoming summit, which Husch Blackwell is sponsoring. My involvement was made possible through HB Unidos. HNBA acts as a force for positive change within the legal profession by creating opportunities for Hispanic lawyers and by helping generations succeed.