Page 30 - Miami Vol 7 No 2

2018 WOMEN IN LAW
JOCELYN SAN
Fragile Like a Bomb
AALM: Did you have any men- tors who helped you develop your career?
Santana: My role model has al- ways been my mother – a promi- nent cardiologist in a male-domi- nated profession. She showed me that anything is possible if you’re willing to work harder than every- one else. Her influence inspires me to this day.
AALM: What do you nd reward- ing about being an attorney?
Santana: Personal injury trial practice is without question the most rewarding area of law there
is. I wake up every morning to new challenges, new experiences and new opportunities for suc- cess. Sometimes I am at my cli- ent’s bedside after major surgery or hugging a parent who just lost a child. The next moment I may be battling a team of defense lawyers on a motion for summary judgment or getting ready to stand up to do a closing argument in a catastrophic injury trial. The challenge is the reward.
AALM: How welcoming do you think the South Florida legal com- munity is to women practitioners?
Santana: Women need to fight to gain respect even more than men. Movements like #Me Too have brought to light the obstacles and challenges that women have had to overcome in a male-domi- nated profession. Women trial at- torneys do not start on the same playing field as men. Our intelli- gence, aptitude and experience are challenged every time we get up to speak. We are judged by a higher standard than men. If we act too aggressively, then we are catego- rized as a “bitch” and if we are too nice, we are a pushover. In contrast, a kind male lawyer is applauded as professional and an agrressive man is praised as a shark in the court- room. This is just the reality of practicing as a women trial lawyer. I feel blessed because those obstacles and challenges fuel my fire to break the stereotypes.
AALM: What rst drew you to your rm?
Santana: Con dence. My part- ners at the rm and I try to exude con dence in every situation. We re- spect the traditions of law and at the same time, reinvent the practice into a modern world.
AALM: What accomplishment are you most proud of achieving?
Santana: Winning my rst trial against an experienced male bull- dog defense lawyer on a case that nobody thought we had a shot at winning. A few more victories like that, and I am proud to say that I am the rst female Hispanic partner at Goldberg & Rosen.
AALM: Tell us something about yourself that people would be sur- prised to learn.
SANTANA SUPPORTED BY THE WOMEN OF GOLDBERG AND ROSEN.
ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · MIAMI · VOL. 7 NO. 2 30
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