I have practiced in the field of healthcare, including medical malpractice defense and long-term care defense for almost my entire career. I am now the head of the long-term care team at my firm.
How has your practice evolved?
I have grown as a litigator over the course of the 21 years that I have been practicing and with that comes more responsibilities. I look forward to continue to prosper as an attorney both in and out of the courtroom. I will be sworn in as the 104th President of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois on June 13, 2018. I am both honored and excited for the challenge and opportunity, and I look forward to the opportunities associated with that position.
If you could offer one piece of advice for young lawyers, what would it be?
If I could offer one piece of advice to young lawyers, it would be to have confidence in yourself. Do not hesitate to take chances, ask questions and be knowledgeable.
What are you most hopeful for about the future of the legal profession?
What I am most hopeful for about the future of the legal profession is that all attorneys treat each other with civility and respect, and that attorneys support their colleagues and work together.
How has civility made a difference in your practice of law?
Civility has made a difference in my practice of law because it creates an atmosphere of respect for one another. Civility is important in attempting to reach a peaceful resolution and to maximize productivity. Lawyers who fail to exhibit civility make it difficult to reach a resolution and they create an environment of hostility.
In the early days of my career, an older attorney took the time to serve as my mentor and guide me. My mentor taught me to have confidence in my skills and helped me grow as a lawyer and realize my true potential.
What do you do for fun?
In addition to being the mother of two wonderful children, my husband and I have participated in six Ironman competitions. In addition, I have run over 20 marathons and I have completed an ultramarathon.
Learn more about Karie Valentino at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLC.