Legal Elite 2024: Administrative/ Government/ Legislative Q&A Pamela Y. O’Berry

Legal Elite 2024 Q&A is sponsored content.

Title: Counsel

Other legal specialties: Advising governmental entities across Virginia

Education: Shippensburg University, bachelor’s degree; American University, law degree

Career mentors: I’ve been fortunate to have many wonderful mentors who genuinely cared about my career and guided me along the way. They include Judge Gerald Bruce Lee, with whom I interned during his time as a circuit court judge in Fairfax County; Judge Claire G. Cardwell, who taught me and many local trial attorneys how to investigate and litigate difficult criminal cases before juries when I was a young lawyer in the Office of the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney, and she was the chief deputy commonwealth’s attorney; retired Police Chief Jerry A. Oliver, who taught me so much about organizational leadership and management.

First legal job: I was a law clerk for a family law sole practitioner in Washington, D.C., John C. Maginnis III.  John was an incredible attorney and early mentor, but that experience taught me that I was not built to be a family law practitioner. 

What lessons or insights have you taken from your time as a prosecutor and judge into private practice? As a prosecutor, I first discovered the importance of being professionally intrepid, prepared and diligent, while also learning the art of effective oral advocacy before juries. During my time as a judge, I discovered that listening is one of the most critical skills a legal practitioner can possess. While many people think judges primarily make decisions, the reality is that effective decision-making relies heavily on the ability to listen carefully to the facts and evidence presented.

You led the Richmond School Board’s external investigation of the June 2023 shooting outside a high school graduation ceremony. Why? I took the lead on that investigation because I was eager to conduct a thorough and unrestricted inquiry. The opportunity to investigate without limitations meant that no person or process was off-limits, which I found empowering. Having experience with investigations, public safety, criminal justice and education, I felt well-suited to address the issues at hand, and to produce a meaningful, useful and objective report.

Read all of the 2024 Virginia Legal Elite here.

Legal Elite 2024 Q&A is sponsored content.