Hale Willis
Winning For My Clients”
You can’t fake passion. It’s something you see in a person’s eyes. It’s how they move when they talk – and you feel it, like an electric shock stretching out to you through their fingertips. Believe me when I say Attorney Kayretha Hale Willis was a whirlwind of enthusiasm and excitement when she described her commitment to her clients during an interview we had in her spacious Promenade West office in Downtown L.A.
Two words embody the essence of Atty. Willis; it’s a phrase she told me at the conclusion of our meeting – it’s a proverb I’ve now adopted; she said simply: “Relationships matter.” If ever a person were buoyed on top of our societal ocean because of their strong community involvement, it would be Atty. Willis. As an active member of the UCLA’s Ralph Bunche Advisory Board, the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre, the Los Angeles African American Women’s Political Action Committee, Women Lawyers of Los Angeles, National Women Lawyers, Coalition of 100 Black Women, and the U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society – to name a few of her many affiliations – she recently received an “Ambassador of Peace” award from the Women’s Federation Group… I don’t think that there is one second in the day that Atty. Willis doesn’t put to good use.
HW: “Where did you develop your strong work ethic?”
ATTORNEY KAYRETHA HALE WILLIS: “From my father. He was a man who worked two jobs and never missed a day of work.”
HW: “When did you first realize you wanted to be an attorney?”
ATTY. WILLIS: “Well, I was a student at UCLA in the sixties, and it really was a time of social movement. I knew I wanted to make a difference; I wanted to change things at a legal level, so being a lawyer was the best way for me to make a contribution.”
HW: “Now, your firm handles Probate and Civil Litigation; what is it about Probate that you enjoy?”
ATTY. WILLIS: “I really enjoy giving people the peace of mind in knowing that if anything ever happens to them, their property will go to exactly the people they want. The last thing anyone wants is to have the State take over their property, or have their family members fighting with each other over the property. So, giving my clients that level of comfort is very satisfying to me.”
HW: “And how about Civil Litigation? What draws you to that?”
ATTY. WILLIS: “I love having money or property returned to its rightful owner. My aim is to compensate an aggrieved party for the misconduct caused by a wrongdoer. So if my client has been wronged in some way, I want to make sure that they receive the compensation that they deserve. So, the joy comes from seeing a smile on the client’s face and the satisfaction of knowing that justice has been served.”
HW: “What do you think has been the key to your success in court?”
ATTY. WILLIS: “First of all, I want to win for my clients – that’s my entire motivation. That’s what I’m focused on; but I believe I’ve been successful because I’m always prepared in court. I work very hard to build the strongest possible case for my clients.”
HW: “You also have a reputation for being very professional, polite and courteous – but at the same time, highly skilled at getting the verdicts and judgments that you want.”
ATTY. WILLIS: “Well, I think it’s good to be professional, polite and courteous in every aspect of your life – that’s just a good rule to follow.”
HW: “What keeps you going every day? What drives you?”
ATTY. WILLIS: “My clients. I truly love helping people. Whether it’s helping a father gain custody of his children in a Family Law case, or protecting a senior citizen from being taken advantage of – I love what I do; I enjoy networking and bringing together people who can help each other. That’s what life is all about. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the career I was born for.”
(213) 617-1035 PROBATE WILLIS -hale10@prodigy.net