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Meet Your Neighbor: Patricia Lee
The holiday season is here and it is a time to reflect on the blessings around us, give thanks to those that have enriched our lives and commend our neighbors who have blazed new trails to improve our community. Patricia Lee of 89144 is a perfect example of someone worth honoring. Giving her time and talents to make a difference, it is abundantly evident that Lee’s efforts have allowed us all to reap the rewards.
Since graduating from the George Washington University Law School in 2002 and moving to Las Vegas immediately thereafter, Lee has made her mark both as an associate and eventually as partner of the Hutchison & Steffen Law Firm. She has not only expanded the structure of her firm to include programs designed to grant access to legal services for those who might not otherwise be able to afford them, but also continues to pay her blessings forward through her involvement with a variety of charitable organizations. This includes acting as President of the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association Foundation, as a board member of the Civil Self Help Center, the Las Vegas Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Lili Claire Foundation Living Library, the Nevada Crime Commission as well as on the Advisory Council for the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, which provides legal assistance for those who do not have the financial means to retain an attorney.
The accomplished attorney, wife and mother of two young children provides us with insight into what drives her to continue to lead the way for others to succeed, what she is doing to be an influence in her own children’s lives and why conversing with her just might feel as comfortable as being interviewed by one of your favorite talk show hosts.
Tell us about your role with Hutchison & Steffen and the Legal Aid program the firm has adopted.
“I practice in the areas of commercial litigation, trademarks, copyrights, family law and mechanic’s lien law. In 2009 I became the first female and the first African American partner of the firm. My promotion allowed me to take a more active role in structuring and expanding our firm’s practice to give access to justice for those who may not otherwise be able to afford it. I was able to forge a partnership between the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada and the firm to adopt their domestic violence cases.”
Your firm was the first-ever to take on Domestic Violence cases through Legal Aid.
“Well, the first to adopt a specific practice area as a whole, yes. Our attorneys have committed to taking at least one domestic violence case free of charge in hopes of contributing to decrease the state’s number of incidents (Nevada currently has the highest rate of deaths associated with domestic violence than any other state in the nation.)”
You’ve also been instrumental in helping small business owners.
“My husband Ronnie is a small business owner and I fully understand the challenges they face. I was able to charter our firm’s Small Business Program, to provide comprehensive services. For a small fee they have access to a wealth of legal advice.”
Why is giving back so important?
“It’s a means of connecting with the community in ways that I would not otherwise be able to do. Any success I’ve achieved is thanks to various people and outreach programs that saved me from what promised to be an unfortunate fate.”
How are you an influence in your own children’s lives?
“Hopefully my efforts help to set moral standards for my children through example and doing something that has value and meaning.”
You’re so easy to talk with…I’m sure your clients feel the same way…
(Laughs) “If I wasn’t a lawyer I would have loved to have been a TV talk show host… or someone that gets to try out and review day spas around the world (does that job really exist?)”
