Page 13 - Phoenix Vol 11 No 2

HARRIS AND MENTEES AT THE ARIZONA BLACK BAR 2018 HAYZEL B. DANIELS SCHOLARSHIP DINNER
“Susan has
been a mentor
to me and
has helped
me navigate
the world
of private
practice as I’ve
progressed
from associate
to partner.”
me I could do anything I wanted to do and encouraged me to not let our socio-economic status deter me,” Harris says. “ ey are very proud of my accomplishments and remind me o en to take time to celebrate the suc- cesses along the way. eir support, along with the support of my friends and mentors, has propelled me in my professional and personal life. When you have the support of your village behind you, you can go places you could not have ever imagined.”
Harris acknowledges that she has greatly bene ted from the mentor- ship of others and she actively reaches out to mentor and provide that expe- rience to other young minority stu- dents and professionals. Harris’s phi- losophy and approach to mentoring is that it is not just a top to bottom rela- tionship, meaning you are mentored by those above you and you mentor those below you; the mentor relation-
In her work at Gust Rosenfeld, Har- ris represents her clients in negotiat- ing real property transactions, leases, contracts, and intergovernmental agreements. She has special expertise in procurement law, public records law, and code enforcement.
“I handle everything for the city or town,” Harris says. “It is the per- fect t for me and what I envisioned myself doing when I thought about a career in the law.” Harris enjoys the challenge that comes with working with municipalities and dealing with various areas of the law. “I’m never bored,” she says.
“As the city attorney, I act as general counsel to many di erent city depart- ments and have to resolve a variety of issues,” she says. “For example, I work with human resources on employ- ment matters, the police department on nuisance crimes, the re depart- ment on purchasing a retruck, and
the economic development depart- ment on land use and real estate transactions.”
is personable and driven attor- ney has received numerous accolades for her leadership in the legal eld and the Arizona business community. Harris knows that all of her accom- plishments are because of the people who have helped her along the way.
A VILLAGE BEHIND HER
Harris moved from California to Arizona with her family when she was 3 years old. She grew up in the west valley and attended Maryvale High School. She earned both her under- graduate and J.D. degrees from the University of Arizona. Harris was the rst of her immediate family mem- bers to graduate from college. Her family was 100 percent behind her pursuit of college and a legal career.
“From an early age my mom, dad, step-mom, and brother always told
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