Intellectual Property Litigation Attorney | Foley & Lardner LLP
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Alexis K. Juergens is a first-generation college graduate and a first-generation lawyer in her family. She always had a clear vision of what she wanted to achieve next: Become a Division 1 swimmer? Check. Graduate law school and pass the bar exam? Check. After all of that, she wasn’t quite sure what to do next — but she did know that there were very few women who practice intellectual property litigation and that it was very difficult to find a female mentor in her field. Armed with two new goals, Alexis was appointed as chair of Foley & Lardner’s National Associate’s Committee, which provides direct feedback to management, within two years of being hired. Today, she works with several junior female attorneys whom she is able to mentor as well as learn from.
What advice would you give to young women looking to succeed in your field?
Never be afraid to ask for opportunities. I learned this from my parents because they never limited me in any way and always encouraged me to keep striving for more. If you want something, just ask for it — the worst someone can say is “No.” If the answer is no, don’t take it personally and just keep moving forward. I have asked for a lot of opportunities throughout my career, many of which I actually thought I was not qualified for, but I was given those opportunities and always pleasantly surprised myself with the outcome.
What community projects or charity work are you involved in, and why are they important to you?
I have had the privilege of being a mentor for the Women Who Succeed program here in Utah. This program has allowed me to be a mentor to three college-age women who I meet with monthly. Being a part of this program has been incredibly important to me for two reasons. First, I never had a female mentor like this when I was in college, so it has been extremely rewarding to be in this role for these young women. Second, I am constantly learning, too. I believe that no matter how far we are in our careers, we can always learn from those around us. To Main Page