Page 32 - Miami Vol 7 No 2

CORPORATE HEADSHOT MIAMI
2018 WOMEN IN LAW
SCHUYLER A Taking a Seat
at the Table
AALM: What do you nd rewarding about being an attorney? What do you nd challenging about your prac- tice. How do you overcome those challenges?
Smith: e ability to make strategic decisions to achieve excellent, and o en unexpected, results for my clients is most rewarding to me. I also revel in exceeding the expec- tations of those who underestimate my capabilities as an attorney, o en because I am a black woman. Maintaining diplomacy and patience when faced with situations where I am the subject of inequity, sexism, and disparate treatment because of my age, sex or race is my biggest struggle. I have been able to overcome these challenges by working hard, always being prepared, and never being afraid to commu- nicate my position so my values and beliefs are clear.
AALM: Did you have any mentors or professors who helped you develop your career? What is the best lesson they taught you?
Smith: Yes, to succeed in our profession today, it is vital to have multiple professional mentors. My success is, in large part, directly connected to having mentors who have invested in my growth and progression as an attorney. At a minimum, there must be one inside your place of employment and another in the community at large. My mentors have encouraged me to become involved in the legal community which has propelled me to hold leadership positions in a number of state and local bar associations. As a result, I can truly say I am a well rounded lawyer. Over the years, my mentors have provided me with practical guidance and advice on how to meet and exceed expectations in my places of employ and on how to survive in a law rm when I had limited knowledge and experience. Within my current law rm, I have been blessed with mentors who have a orded me opportunities to showcase my legal skills on complex and high exposure cases and to develop my own book of business which is crucial to sustainable growth in this profession.
AALM: How welcoming do you think the South Flori- da legal community is to women practitioners?
Smith: Despite the progress of women in our profes- sion in recent years, I believe that there remains tremen- dous room for improvement with respect to opportuni- ties for women in our profession. Women can do much more to ensure other women are given opportunities to grow and excel. From the boardroom to the courtroom, our presence in occupying positions of leadership re- mains underwhelming. In this regard, it is incumbent on us to be a voice for other quali ed women, and to open
ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · MIAMI · VOL. 7 NO. 2 32