Meet Madeline! Prior to her career in law, Madeline attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with a minor in Philosophy. Madeline designed software and managed client and public communications regarding product development. Her work in software brought her to Las Vegas, where she attended law school at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and received her Juris Doctor degree in 2015. Madeline is now a Partner in the Las Vegas office of BWB&O and has been practicing law for 8 years.
Q: After years of designing software. What inspired you to become an attorney?
A: The best part of my job in software was getting to create solutions every day. Practicing law was always something I dreamed about, but I had deferred that dream through college, and then later assumed that my math degree would not be a good fit for law school. When I took a step back, I realized that being an attorney would not only allow me to solve problems, but that those solutions would be meaningful for my clients, and I started the path toward my career in law.
Q: What benefits have you received from your leadership experience?
A: The opportunity to mentor is the biggest gift in my practice, and it’s a gift that continues giving; Every person is an individual, with different styles of learning, communication, and organization, so there is always a new skill to hone, or tactic to improve. Leadership is a constant exercise in empathy, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue growing!
Q: Have you experienced obstacles in your career that have made it difficult for you to meet your goals? How did you overcome those challenges?
A: Short answer: yes, of course! One of the largest career obstacles that I have tackled was being a part-time law student while working full time in software, and the only way past it was to go through it, one day/project/reading assignment at a time. Many tasks/obstacles seem insurmountable at the outset, but persistence pays… and sometimes doing the easy bits first helps get the ball rolling. (Who doesn’t like a to-do list with at least a couple of things checked-off?)
Q: How do you manage your time effectively in order to have a healthy work/life balance? What are some fun ways that you disconnect and recharge?
A: If you asked me this question ten times, I would probably give ten different answers, because it changes day to day, but the unifying factor is to honor my instincts – whether that is taking a break and coming back to a project with fresh eyes, setting aside a couple of hours of “do not disturb” time on my calendar to dedicate full focus to something complex, or getting up and moving (even just for a 15-minute walk). Recharging can mean a million things depending on my mood, and luckily, there is always something fun to do in Vegas: a spa day, a concert, trying out a new restaurant, a Broadway show at the Smith Center, a Golden Knights game… the possibilities are endless!
A special thank you to Madeline for sharing her experience on her road to success.