Member Spotlight: Darcee Siegel

What has been the highlight of your career?

Being able to advise and educate the public and elected officials about the law. Being able to survive and thrive in an arena comprised of mostly men. Having my husband and three sons be present while being sworn in as the first appointed female City Attorney for the City of North Miami Beach, Florida, since its incorporation in 1926.

Learning early in my career that government work could be very lonely, where mentors or co-workers have their own caseload, so I had to become very independent and learn from day one that if I was to survive, I had to sink or swim.

If you could go back to the beginning of your legal career, would you have done anything differently?

No, not really. With every setback, new opportunities grew. I learned quickly that when one door closes, another one opens.

What advice would you give to someone considering law school today?

Do not give it a second thought. Just do it. If you have a passion for the law, teaching others, or just want to make a difference, hear the calling and go to law school. Study hard, but also take advantage of the contacts that you make. Try not to chart out your life or career. Just be in the moment and expand your mind and learning experiences.

What were the biggest changes you saw in the legal profession over the course of your career?

I would say:

• Technology.
• More women are showing up at depositions or trying cases in the courtroom.
• The lack of professionalism within the profession. 

When did you first become a member of the ABA, and why did you decide to join?

I first joined the ABA as a law student because I was given a discount as an ABA law student for the Bar prep course. Upon graduating from law school, I was given a free membership as a graduation gift. I believed back then, as I do today, that every American lawyer should be an ABA member. Just like the American Express slogan, no one should leave home without his or her ABA Membership Card.

Are there any member benefits that SLD or the ABA provided to you that helped you decide to become a member of the ABA and/or SLD?

The ABA has made me a better lawyer. The ABA and SLD have given me opportunities to lead and provided me with a voice to make a difference.

What has been the highlight of your work with the ABA?

Leadership positions. Throughout my nearly 37 years as an ABA Member, I have served on the Board of Governors, House of Delegates, have been a member of numerous ABA Presidential Committees and Task Forces, Chaired the Government and Public Sector Lawyers’ Division, and served as the Diversity Officer/Secretary for the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section.

If you had not become a lawyer, what do you think you would have done?

This is a tough question. I probably would have become an English teacher or a politician. I believe that in both areas I would have used my voice to teach and to make a difference.