CBA Record May-June 2024

A Journey Towards Public Trust via Regulation, Education, and Support: Lea S. Gutierrez, ARDC Administrator By Judge E. Kenneth Wright, Jr., Circuit Court of Cook County and CBA Editorial Record Board Member

T he Illinois ARDC welcomed Lea S. Gutierrez as its new Admin istrator in October 2023. In her acceptance remarks, Gutierrez shared that Jerry Larkin, her mentor and the ARDC’s recently retired Administrator, left big shoes to fill. Gutierrez is more than ready for the challenge, however. In fact, she likes to treat challenges as new opportunities. Gutierrez is not only eager to con tinue building on the accomplishments and momentum Larkin created but also to further the ARDC’s mission in new ways, including raising awareness of the Commission’s significant work around education and awareness. “[Larkin] left the state of lawyer regulation in a better place, and that’s a great thing to inherit. We’re trying to make it so regulation sup ports lawyers – that started with Jerry, and I want to build off that foundation,” Gutierrez commented. To that end, she is ready to use her personal and profes sional experiences to further propel the ARDC’s mission, to shed light on the ARDC’s decision making process, and to rebrand the public’s perception of the ARDC as a primarily disciplinary body to one that includes educational and support resources as well. A San Francisco transplant, Gutierrez has sought ways to educate others from her earliest days. Influenced by her family of educators and medical professionals, she seized any opportunity to improve the world and those around her. In high school, Gutierrez was part of the inaugu ral integrated class at a previously all-boys Catholic high school in California. Real izing the intersectionality of the different facets of her identity, Gutierrez worked with staff and peers, challenging them

to imagine different perspectives, and demonstrating how changing one’s lens can foster a more inclusive environment for everyone. In retrospect, Gutierrez considers that high school experience her first foray in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion. But her journey to educate and help others did not stop there. After earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hampton University, Gutierrez earned her JD from Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law, and later, her master’s degree in forensic sciences from George Washing ton University. Although she considered pursuing a career in medicine like her psychologist father, she ultimately chose to practice law. Despite not knowing any lawyers while growing up, she selected a legal career because her parents always encouraged her to choose a “helping pro fession.” Gutierrez’s mother spurred her interest by reminding Gutierrez that as a teen she had an answer for everything and joking that she was never able to win an argument against her daughter. After law school, Gutierrez honed her litigation and teaching skills as a public defender with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, Baltimore County. In that position, she did not simply defend her clients but strived to help them and their families better understand and navi gate the legal system. Her experiences enhanced her compassion and empathy for those with limited resources and means who traverse this complex system. She took the time to listen, to observe, and to learn her clients’ perspectives. Using this knowledge, she developed the tools and language to best help them through their experiences. Gutierrez brings these skills

to the ARDC. Serving as senior litigation counsel with a heavy caseload did not deter Guti errez from helping create and implement the ARDC’s first DEI strategy. Once again, she saw an opportunity to increase education and awareness about DEI efforts and seized it. Before briefly leav ing the ARDC to serve as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and then the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at the American Lung Associa tion, Gutierrez served as the ARDC’s first Director of Diversity & Inclusion. “Every job I’ve had has been tied to my respon sibility to others and my commitment to making positive change.” A self-professed life-long learner, Guti errez approaches her new role as she has all her other experiences: by educating herself and others and seeing every chal lenge as a new opportunity. Despite Guti errez’s previous tenure with the ARDC, she realizes her new role requires her to modify her perspective. She understands her responsibility to balance sometimes competing interests while simultaneously maintaining the integrity of the profes sion, as well as the public’s trust. For instance, Gutierrez set out on a listening tour to better understand stake holders’ interests and priorities, as well as the state of lawyer regulations. She began her listening tour within the ARDC by speaking with board members, liaisons, leaders, staff, and volunteer board mem bers in small groups to fully appreciate the ARDC’s strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. In the second phase of her listening tour, Gutierrez has turned her focus to the legal community, speak

10 May/June 2024