Please provide a description of your practice.
I am the Founding Attorney of Serna Legal Services, 312-601-9859, ns@sernalegalservices.com, a corporate law firm that offers legal services to Latine-owned businesses and Latine entrepreneurs. We offer our legal services in English and Spanish. We draft, review and negotiate contracts, work with our clients to incorporate their businesses and advise our clients on their business’s ongoing regulatory and legal obligations. At Serna Legal Services, we believe that the Latine business community deserves access to corporate attorneys they can trust, with whom they can communicate and that will provide the highest quality customer service.

Why are you a member of the WBAI?
I am a member of the WBAI because I truly believe in the power of collaboration, especially among women. In the U.S., women make up only about 40% of U.S. attorneys and Latina women make up an even smaller percentage, less than 2% of U.S. attorneys. In my career, I have been fortunate to learn from many distinguished female attorneys who have been willing to share their honest perspectives on the legal profession and their paths to success. Their experiences and wisdom have been invaluable to me, and I want to make sure to continue this dialogue as I delve deeper into my career. The WBAI creates an amazing space that helps facilitate these conversations among female attorneys.

What do you think is the best way to empower women in law?
I think we can best empower women in law by opening more doors to leadership roles. Because relationships are instrumental in achieving leadership positions, it’s important that women be included in conversations regarding paths to leadership and that employers and organization leaders take action to ensure that qualified women are being equally and fairly considered for professional advancement.

What are you most looking forward to in the following year, personally/professionally?

Professionally, I’m very excited to celebrate Serna Legal Services’ 1-year anniversary in April 2023. So far, my first year as a solo practitioner has been one of the most rewarding, challenging and exciting experiences of my professional career. I look forward to building off my successes and mistakes, growing my practice and helping many more Latine business owners to create and scale their businesses.

Personally, I want to continue spending quality time with my family and friends. Always trying to create more balance between my career and personal life!

Tell us something interesting about you.

I am a first-generation Mexican American and the first person in my family to graduate from college and law school. I am extremely proud of my Mexican roots and Spanish-speaking abilities. My Spanish-speaking abilities have been hugely instrumental during my legal career and all throughout my life.

My family also owns a small fast-food restaurant called Andy’s Grille in South Holland, IL. The restaurant helped forge my work ethic since the age of 5 and holds a very important place in my history and heart!