SPOTLIGHT: Valentina Scirica, Labor & Employment Law, Government Representation

March 17, 2023
Trenk Isabel Siddiqi & Shahdanian P.C.

If you could have dinner with anyone alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Valentina Scirica

I would go to dinner with my grandmother. While she is still alive, my grandmother lives in Georgia, and we do not see each other often. However, every time I speak to her on the phone, I am reminded of what a great woman she is.

My grandmother was a registered nurse during a time when women sometimes didn’t even finish high school. She worked as a nurse until she opened her own business in the gaming industry, selling high-end games such as chess and backgammon to large department stores. In the midst of it all, she raised three children, one of them being my mom.

My grandmother instilled in me the importance of learning. Every time I speak to my grandmother, she teaches me something new and opens my eyes to new topics and events of which I would otherwise be unaware. Because of her, I realize the importance of continuing to learn and expand our knowledge despite our age.

What led you to the practice of law and/or to your specific area of law?

Even as a child – without really even knowing what the practice of law entailed – I always told people that I would become a lawyer. After so many years of saying I wanted to become a lawyer, the next logical step was to actually become one!

In college, I was a member of the legal society and lived among peers who also wanted to practice law in the future. It was only when I was in law school that I realized I had made the right choice. Being among a group of individuals who had similar goals helped me thrive. I enjoyed and still enjoy the intellectual challenge of practicing law. I specifically enjoy employment and labor law because the practice brings new challenges and situations on a daily basis.

How is being a woman lawyer advantageous?

Being a woman lawyer is not advantageous to me personally, however, I believe that having women lawyers is advantageous to society. Women bring different perspectives that men may be unable to bring. Not only are women lawyers able to provide perspective based on being a woman, but also as mothers and wives. I believe our society needs more woman lawyers since there are simply not enough of us in the profession. It still shocks me when I walk into a courtroom, and I am one of the only women in the room. While it can be daunting, it reminds me how important it is to have women advocating for society and for other women.

What advice (professional or personal) would you give your younger self or the next generation of women leaders?

Believe in yourself and be fierce in pursuing what you believe.