We recently sat down with AYLA member Clare Mattione for our Member Spotlight.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your law practice. I graduated from Texas A&M School of Law with a concentration in family law in 2021. I work at Danley Bergia PLLC, a small firm that practices family law exclusively.
I am passionate about connecting with my clients on a personal level while advocating for them during their tough times.
How long have you been involved in AYLA and what has been your best AYLA experience so far? I joined AYLA when I moved to Austin in 2021, and I started getting more involved with the committees earlier this year. It has meant a lot to me to connect with other local attorneys in low-pressure environments, especially since I moved to Austin right after law school and had to build my network from scratch. The Freshsquire events for new attorneys especially made it easy to find both friends and mentors.
What was your childhood dream job? As a child, my dream job changed with my hobbies. When I felt like coloring, I wanted to be an artist. When I felt like running around, I wanted to be a professional athlete. I even wanted to be the president of the United States at a time where I was feeling bossy.
What are some of things you enjoy most about living in Austin? I especially love how dog friendly Austin is! I grew up in Missouri where it’s too cold for outdoor activities for at least half of the year, so I was so pleasantly surprised to be able to bring my little buddy with me almost everywhere year-round.
What’s your best piece of advice for young attorneys? I always advise younger attorneys to cut themselves slack if it feels like things aren’t working out perfectly for them. It’s okay if you’re not totally passionate about the area of law you chose or if it took a little time to land a solid job. You have time to make changes until you get it right. Most importantly, make sure to learn everything you can from your current situation.