Karen Mathis
Lawyer / President
American Bar Association
Denver, CO USA
“If you have passion for something, there's not such a thing as a 40-hour workweek.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationKaren Mathis
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
When she was growing up, girls had very few choices: you could be a stay-at-home mom, a nurse, a teacher, or a nun.
At the age of 12, she decided she didn't want to do any of those things: she wanted to be a lawyer.
Went to college and got an education degree; spent some time teaching, then went to law school.
No one in her family had ever graduated from college, but once she got to law school, she realized she'd found "the love of her life."
Says you manage a golf game not by thinking about all 18 holes, but by focusing on the hole you're on and the two coming up.
In that vein, she tries to operate with a five-year plan because she doesn't think it makes sense to plan beyond that.
Says the law profession isn't always accepting of women, but "it's easier to walk out a glass door than to keep bumping your head on a glass ceiling."
One employer wasn't matching her needs, so she left and formed her own practice; was able to take on the cases she wanted, hire more women.
Keep following my journey
Education
Career
Lawyer / President
I work to improve the legal profession by promoting ethical standards and reducing bias in the justice system.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Law
Non-Profit Organizations
Upholding a Cause and Belief
Hurdles
Challenges I Overcame
Other
