OPENING ARMS AND OPENING MINDS
OPENING ARMS AND OPENING MINDS
DAN TRAYNOR ABA Delegate
The State Bar Association is honored to host ABA President Paulette Brown at the SBAND Annual Convention in Grand Forks June 15-17 .
President Brown earned a B . A . at Howard University . Her graduation from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1976 launched a successful career that has focused on all facets of labor and employment and commercial litigation .
Brown has held many positions throughout her career , including in-house counsel to a number of Fortune 500 companies and as a municipal court judge . For more than 25 years , Brown has worked as a labor and employment law partner and chief diversity officer with Locke Lord LLP in Morristown , New Jersey .
Paulette Brown is the first woman of color elected to the top post in the ABA ’ s history . She is also nationally known for speaking out to eliminate bias in the U . S . legal system and advocating for the advancement of diversity in our profession .
As North Dakota lawyers open our arms to welcome President Brown , I expect she will ask us to open our minds to issues of diversity in our profession and justice in America .
In advance of President Brown ’ s visit to North Dakota , I asked her about her career , our profession , and what she wants North Dakota lawyers to know about her .
Q : Why did you become a lawyer ?
President Brown : Originally I went to college thinking that I wanted to be a social worker , because I wanted to change the world . I feel like I still want to change the world . My roommates came to college knowing they wanted to be lawyers . I didn ’ t know any lawyers growing up , so I had never met one until I got to college . I met a woman who was the law librarian at Howard . Then I got to take some classes that lawyers taught . I realized that lawyers can make a much greater impact ; not to say that being a social worker is not very honorable . But I felt like I could do a lot more with a law license to help people . So , that is what made me decide to become a lawyer .
Q : What has been the most challenging thing about being a lawyer ?
President Brown : One of the most challenging things is , and has been , that people still think that because I am a woman and because I am African American that I am not as skilled as I am . Many people still express surprise when they realize that I am miles above things . You know , it is somewhat frustrating sometimes when people are surprised that I know what I am doing . Also , I am still being confused as a person other than a lawyer even when I ’ m the only one in a suit .
Q : You probably find that to your advantage on occasion , that you are underestimated ?
President Brown : Exactly ! Exactly ! Have I ever used that to my advantage ! That is absolutely true . It has worked so well for me because people have underestimated me .
Q : What have you found to be the most rewarding part of your career ?
President Brown : Oh , there are so many things ! I don ’ t know if I can single out a particular thing . I can tell you about some things that I think , had I not been a lawyer , I would not have had the opportunity to do . I would not have had the opportunity to monitor the first free and democratic election in South Africa . I would not have known about how much need there is for people to have legal services . There is such a significant gap in providing justice and people not knowing that they really need lawyers , and the ability of the lawyers to help other people . . . just to have a real understanding of how valuable lawyers really are and how they play in a role in almost every single thing that we do .
Q : Why are you a member of the American Bar Association ?
President Brown : Well , let me count the ways . When I was in law school , when we graduated from law school , it was automatic . It was what you did . You joined the American Bar Association . So , from the
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