Page 18 - JanuaryFebruary25 CBA Report

PRACTICE/INTEREST GROUPS
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WITH
THE
Zoe
Curry
Alex
Durst
STATE AND FEDERAL COURT PRACTICE GROUP
CO-CHAIRS
18 What did you want to be when you grew up?
I aspired to be a teacher when I was in elementary and
middle school. I enjoyed learning and often found myself
eager to teach what I was learning to my parents and siblings.
Naturally, that exercise did not seem to bring them as much
joy and excitement as it brought me. I imagine they were
relieved when I reached high school and developed an interest
in law.
What made you want to be an attorney?
I first visited the Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse in high
school—not for a field trip, but to observe oral argument
before the late Judge Spiegel. I was there with my parents
and brothers for a case involving the educational rights
of my younger brother, who has an intellectual disability.
The passionate and compelling advocacy of our attorney
inspired me to pursue law school. My mom shared this with
her, and the attorney told me to call her if I ever made it there.
I did, and she has since had a lasting impact on my legal career.
Tell us about your favorite vacation.
One of my favorite trips was to Europe during my junior year of
college. As a collegiate soccer player, I traveled with my team-
mates and coaches to France, England, Belgium, and Scotland
for an international training trip. While there, we attended
several professional matches and had the opportunity to
compete against women’s teams from those countries. It was a
memorable experience to share with my teammates.
What’s an important lesson you’ve learned?
Very early in my career, my mentor, a former opposing counsel I
had befriended, explained to me why she settled a particular case.
When I questioned whether the case might have been winnable,
she said to me: “Look, anyone can learn to litigate a case. What
someone pays me for is my judgment.” This may sound simple,
obvious even. But good judgment in litigation requires consid-
eration of an almost infinite number of factors. When a case
goes poorly, it is often due to the attorney not exercising good
judgment.
What made you want to be an attorney?
I wanted to be in the courtroom. Like many in my generation, as
a teenager in the early 2000s, I absolutely loved Law & Order. That
led me to join mock trial in high school and college. I was hooked.
What’s your favorite food and why?
I love to cook and eat, so it is very difficult to choose just one.
As a kid, I lived in Spain for a year where I developed a love for
seafood. Recently, I learned to make an
octopus dish called Pulpo a la Gallega.
You boil the octopus, and boil potatoes
in the same water. Then you layer slices
of octopus over slices of potato, drizzle
very good olive oil over it, and finish
with sea salt and paprika. It is remark-
ably delicious, and in some ways, a
very simple dish.
What are your goals for this year as Co-Chairs?
This is the inaugural year of the State and Federal Court Practice Group, which was formed by merging several former prac-
tice groups. Our goals for the year include providing members with opportunities to stay informed about changes in local state and
federal court practice and procedures, facilitating networking among practitioners in these courts, and fostering dialogue between
the bench and bar. We plan to host our first CLE program in Spring 2025.
THE REPORT | January/February 2025 | CincyBar.org