14 A R I Z O N A AT T O R N E Y O C T O B E R 2 0 0 1

Diversity in law is a topic that hasno one meaning. Do we mean diver-sity in ethnicity, race, geography,age, practice area? The lawyers pro-filed here represent the breadth ofdiversity in many of its meanings.Reading about their lives, though,reveals what we talk about when wetalk about diversity: excellence andachievement. Their paths to successmay vary, but their accomplishmentsin practice—and love for theirwork—demonstrate how they excel.

This month, also read a roundupof the current unsettled state of thelaw on affirmative action in lawschool admissions and a provocativepiece that dissects some myths surrounding that admissions tool.

DiversityinPractice

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN BECKETTMAKEUP BY JULIE KOETH

15 Alive and KickingLisa Loo’s Fulfilled LawPractice

16 Life in a FishbowlResponsibility, Rewards andMentorship

19 Bold MovesOne Lawyer’s SustainingPractice

20 Learning on the JobLitigator Loves the Diverse Caseload

22 Circuit Court ScrapAffirmative Action PathUnclear to Law Schools

27 Myths and Facts About AffirmativeAction

30 A Historic FirstAsian American ConferenceComes to Arizona

15O C T O B E R 2 0 0 1 A R I Z O N A AT T O R N E Y

Born in Macau and married to aCambodian political refugee,Lisa Loo knows what it meansto face diversity head on.

Though she’s lived in the United Statessince she was 8, her life’s experiences havebeen full of interesting twists and turns.

She finds diversity at work, where she isthe Associate General Counsel for ArizonaState University. In that position, she han-dles a variety of cases. On any given day,she will negotiate contracts from real estateand development to procurement. Shehandles risk management matters andoversees immigration issues that pertain tomany of ASU’s foreign instructors.

“I came to ASU because of the diversi-ty,” Loo says. She spent years in firmswhere her colleagues were specialists, whileshe remained a generalist. She says it wasfrustrating at times, but her hard work paidoff. She was precisely what ASU neededwhen she applied for the job eight yearsago. Now she’s spinning the plates withher multifaceted caseload, and loving everyminute of it.

Loo stays busy outside work too, whereshe makes it a priority to “give somethingback” to her community. She’s beeninvolved with many civic groups, includingthe State Bar of Arizona’s Committee onWomen and Minorities and the Arizona

State Advisory Committee to the U.S.Commission on Civil Rights. Loo is also anoriginal board member of the ArizonaAsian American Bar Association. She saysher capacity as board member often meansserving as a historical reminder to newmembers: “Our younger members arealways enthusiastic and eager to getinvolved,” Loo says, “but they don’talways know why we do many of the thingswe do or why we have hurdles still to over-come.”

Before joining ASU’s legal team, Loowas with the firm Streich Lang in Phoenix.She worked as a corporate finance associ-ate for five years, but she saw one prob-lem: “I always wanted to be a mother,”Loo said. “If I wanted to see my childrenand have a quality relationship with them,I couldn’t keep going the way I wasgoing.” That’s when ASU came along.

Her husband travels for business often,so Loo is the primary caregiver of theirthree young children. She doesn’t mind,though, because now she has the flexibili-ty to attend a school play or her son’skarate practice. After the kids are tuckedin, Loo finishes up important projects athome.

At a bar association seminar some yearsback, Loo spoke on the importance of bal-ancing career and home. She gave simple

advice: “Don’t be afraid to ask for helpwhen your friends offer. Sometimes, asworking mothers, we often feel afraid toask, as if to show weakness. There’s noth-ing better than having a network ofresources and support, so you can findhappiness at work and home.”

Loo is pleased to say that she is a blackbelt in tae kwan do, and in those studies iswhere she met her husband. Though shehas not been in the ring in years, she oftenuses those skills in the professional arena.“My husband taught me that when you aresparring, always look your opponent in theeye. You always learn something from peo-ple when you are not afraid to look themin the eye.”

Are there still challenges for profession-al women? Sometimes, says Loo, yes. Shehas been mistaken as a secretary once ortwice, but she was too busy to worry aboutit. Looking back on her career, Loo knowsthat she has a knack for getting to the heartof matters, and she doesn’t have to play the“zero-sum” game—winning at all costs.For Loo, it’s about dealing in good faith sothat all parties get what they desire.

A final bit of wisdom: “Let yourstrengths carry you. If I have a goodroundhouse kick, I’m gonna stick with aroundhouse! I may not always win, butI’m okay as long as I stay in the ring.”

aliveLisa Loo’sFulfilled LawPractice

kicking&BY HEATHER PLAYFORD

W W W. A Z B A R . O R G