Q: Your practice seems really varied.
A: It’s my favorite part of my practice. I
grew up around the courtroom, so I always
wanted to be in it. As a young attorney,
I volunteered to do any legal work that
would be in the courtroom. As a result,
I took whatever kind of case [would get
me into the courtroom]. I found that one
of the things I love is that when you’re
involved in trial work, you work with clients
and experts in all kinds of areas. And so,
in a personal injury case you’ll work with
doctors; in another kind of case you’ll work
with architects and engineers; in another
kind of case, technology experts. I love that
kind of diversity.
Q: You have to learn new things all the time.
A: Right. The constant is hard work,
preparation and courtroom skills.
Q: Tell me about your interest in public
service and politics.
A: With my dad, I kind of grew up on
the campaign trail. I was around people
who were involved in public service, and
that’s how I see politics: as public service.
Early in my career I volunteered with
the lawyers in my firm who did lobbying
work, and I still love that process. You
get to use other skills—negotiation,
compromise, working with words—
drafting bills and amendments.
ANN MALONEY CONWAY
· OF COUNSEL, KELEHER & MCLEOD
· COMMERCIAL LITIGATION;
New Mexico has a citizen’s Legislature.
They aren’t paid and they come from all
walks of life. So that gives me the opportunity
to work with people from all over the state.
I may be working with ranchers, farmers,
scientists from Los Alamos …
Q: How important is it to have people
skills?
A: You have to be a good listener to
understand where the heart of their concern
lies. Then you take that and try to figure out
something that everybody feels comfortable
with, or at least that everybody can live with.
It’s a lot of compromise.
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