Lorraine M. Campos
I'm the first generation in my family to go to college, let alone law school. I was told, “just go all the way,” and I did.
Lorraine M. Campos
This Is My Story.
I grew up in New York, the child of Jamaican immigrants.
My childhood was probably pretty ordinary; I had a loving and supportive family and spent a lot of time playing outside, but there was always a focus on education. I understood at a really young age that I had opportunities and advantages that my parents simply did not have and I was pushed to “go all the way” with my education. My parents could not provide much in the way of direction, but they knew enough to encourage me to get the best education that I could and to never give up.
My professional success is due, in large part, to my mentors. Those mentors eventually became sponsors, and those relationships grew into genuine friendships.
Meet Lorraine
Lorraine M. Campos is a partner and member of the Steering Committee of Crowell & Moring’s Government Contracts Group. She focuses her practice on assisting clients with a variety of issues related to government contracts, government ethics, campaign finance and lobbying laws. She was recognized by Profiles in Diversity Journal as one of their “Women Worth Watching” for 2015.
There were probably thousands of kids who wrote their college application essay about why the school should accept them. Mine was titled “Why Georgetown Should Not Accept Me” and in the essay I wrote about the stereotype of the typical student, and used it as a way to differentiate myself and discuss what I could bring to the University. To my surprise I was accepted and my years at Georgetown expanded my horizons broadly. I loved being in DC. From there went straight on to The George Washington University Law School.
The Power of Mentoring
My professional success is due, in large part, to my mentors. Those mentors eventually became sponsors, and those relationships grew into genuine friendships. I’ve learned so much from my mentors. Although many of them no longer practice and are happily retired, we still keep in touch. But now that I mentor more junior associates, I believe that mentoring is a two-way street; I get something from every interaction I have with another professional. I find the junior attorneys that I mentor to be perceptive, dedicated and diligent, and I have learned a great deal from listening to them and learning their perspective on the legal profession, the workplace and being a younger professional today.
Becoming a Catalyst for Change
One way that I try to mentor others is to prioritize participating in our Crowell our affinity groups. My goal for the firm’s Black Affinity group is to ensure that we create smaller spaces for sharing experiences, nurturing relationships and retaining attorneys. I also think it is important to ensure that everyone has a voice, and I believe the affinity groups have become genuine catalysts for change at the firm. The affinity groups are part of our larger diversity efforts. Crowell is working in the right direction to support diversity. I feel like we’re making a difference. The law is hard, and practicing in a law firm is very hard. But what is encouraging is that we’re changing the legal industry, a little bit at a time.
I am often asked for career advice. I believe in Yeats quote “there are no strangers here; only friends you haven’t met.” I enjoy meeting people and making friends, whether those people become mentees, clients or simply contacts, I believe that the best advice that I received is to always find time to network, allowing others to know that you care, being open to learning and understanding others and finding that personal connection.