Allison Starnes-Anglea, 37, director of career services, Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law

Allison Starnes-Anglea is committed to ensuring all law students at Lincoln Memorial University can succeed, no matter who they are or where they are from.

A 2019 conversation with a law student turned an idea into a reality, and Starnes-Anglea launched the Career Closet at the university, providing courtroom-appropriate outfits for students going into clerkships and internships on a tight budget.

The Career Closet is just one example of how Starnes-Anglea breaks down barriers and creates accessible resources for students at Lincoln Memorial University.

When you reflect on your career so far, which achievement stands out most?

Creating the Career Closet. It was a simple, low-cost solution to a barrier between my law students and their career goals. Traditionally, law students are expected to have several suits available for interviews and job opportunities. I saw students reusing one suit over and over throughout a semester-long internship. They could not afford to purchase more professional clothing. I knew it distressed them and worried it would affect their professional performance. Thanks to the generosity of Knoxville attorneys and judges, we offer a full closet of "like new" suits that serve dozens of Lincoln Memorial University Law students each semester.

What is the greatest professional obstacle you’ve had to overcome and how did you overcome it?

Initially, I would see a problem, create a solution and draw a direct line. I am an energized problem-solver, but I struggled to communicate how to arrive at my solution. As the leader of a small department, efficiency is key. It was challenging to prioritize the time needed to develop and execute a new process. "Fix it and forget it." However, I learned my efforts at efficiency were inefficient. Not having workflows ultimately created more work for me because everything required providing detailed instructions. By carving out time to create a route to the endpoint, I learned the value of the process.

What will you focus on in 2023?

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law recently hired an assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion. In 2023, I look forward to a collaborative effort between our departments. I hope to create new initiatives and programming that serve our students, alumni and the profession.

What is your biggest professional dream?

Comfortable retirement.

What mistake did you learn the most from?

Taking a short maternity leave. Unpaid leave, willing grandparent, and the desire to return to "myself" after a miserable pregnancy all fed into the idea I needed to be back at work as soon as possible. Plus, my spouse went back to work, so I should, too, right?! I returned to the office six weeks postpartum. Mistake. I wasn't myself. I didn't perform well. I wasn't present. After that, I learned that I need to give myself time to recover after a life event. If I am at work, but I am not myself, am I really there?

What motivates you?

The future of the profession. Where is it headed? What will it value? Who will lead it?

What is the most overrated piece of business advice you’ve heard?

"Hard work pays off." Does it? Lawyers, particularly new ones, work excessive hours, say yes to every assignment, and feel pressure to abandon their personal lives. Lawyers have a disproportionately high rate of substance abuse, mental health issues, and stress levels when compared to other professionals. Instead of paying off, "hard work" often leads to resentment and burnout. The best work is performed when the employee is rested, focused and healthy. Accomplishing those qualities requires boundaries that enable fulfillment outside of work. Staying "you" is what pays off.

What trait do you most want in a co-worker?

Ease around me. Talk to me, ask questions, share concerns.

What about Knoxville would you like to improve?

I want more diversity in my profession at a local level. I want to see people of color, people of underrepresented backgrounds and economically disadvantaged classes succeed as lawyers and judges in Knoxville. The Knoxville legal community is working on innovative solutions to attract more diverse law students and lawyers, and I would like to see those efforts prevail.

What don't people know about you?

I am easygoing about the hyphenated name. Of the many variations of my name over the years, my favorite is Allison Barnes-Arugula. The runner-up is Angela Starnes-Angela. Both were supplied by fellow lawyers.

• Years worked at current company: Five

• Degrees and certifications: Bachelor's of science in anthropology, Rollins College; Juris Doctor, University of Memphis

• Community involvement: Programming chair for the East Tennessee Lawyers' Association for Women; committee member for Legal Aid of East Tennessee's pro bono night; committee member of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services; board member for the Knox County Foster Care Review Board; mentor for tnAchieves; volunteer for Legal Aid of East Tennessee's veterans advice clinic; 2021 honoree of the Arthritis Foundation of Tennessee (Knoxville); past president of the Court Appointed Special Advocates of East Tennessee

This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.

- Becca Wright

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox News 40 Under 40 awards: Allison Starnes-Anglea, Duncan School of Law