Places & Faces | BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Brittany Chavis is Blazing a Trail by Kerri Cooke
Brittany Chavis knew since she was five years old that she wanted to be an attorney. She even informed her parents of her
dream at that tender age. “When other children played doctors or teachers, I played courtroom,” Chavis says. Along with the support of her parents, Chavis was determined to reach her goal and she explains “hurdles were not looked to as challenges but as stepping stones to get me to my end goal.” Chavis graduated from Southern University Law Center in 2012 and accepted a job as a clerk for Judge David Ritchie in the 14th Judicial Judge’s Office. She remained in that position for more than a year as it was great training ground. “The clerkship allowed me the ability to observe court proceedings, become familiar with the judges that I would eventually come before and gave me practical insight into the practice of law,” Chavis says. She continued gaining experience as an assistant district attorney for the 14th Judicial District Court for five years. Law has always been a male-dominated field. It wasn’t until 1950 that Harvard Law School began admitting women into their program. However, according to the American Bar Association, last year 41% of attorneys active in the United States were women. According to the same report, only 5% of practicing attorneys are Black. Of those 5%, various sources estimate women make up 2% of that statistic. But Chavis has never let any of these stereotypes slow her down. “It’s no secret that the practice of law, especially in a small town is male driven, so it was at this level of my career that I experienced barriers as a Black woman, but those experiences crafted me into a strong advocate. During times where colleagues and adversaries tried to make me doubt myself and my ability, those feelings fueled me to do better to achieve better.” Originally dreaming of becoming a career prosecutor,
18
Thrive Magazine for Better Living • February 2025