Fellows Spotlight
Attorney Beck Fineman
Pullman & Comley
- Why did you choose the legal profession as a career?
This is a hard question to answer. I’ve wanted to become a lawyer since I was six years old when I first learned what being a lawyer was all about. It just clicked.
- What do you enjoy most about being an attorney?
I find it very fulfilling to be in a position to help people solve real problems in their lives. I love the work being an attorney entails from the research, arguing in court, working with other lawyers, and so on. I also like that this career always gives me the opportunity to learn something new.
- What is the biggest challenge you have faced in the legal profession?
The biggest challenge comes from other lawyers. It’s unfortunate, but I’ll sometimes encounter lawyers who won’t follow the rules. To solve this issue, I ensure that I’m always following the rules even if my adversary is not, as well as preparing my clients.
- What do you like most about Connecticut?
I grew up outside the DC area and went to law school in Maryland. I moved to Connecticut for a job, but wasn’t convinced I would stay. I stayed because Connecticut offers a really exciting mix of different experiences. I feel that each city in Connecticut is completely different from the other. I also feel very fortunate to have landed in a state that’s very good at protecting people’s rights, especially as a trans person.
- Please share any community service you have participated in and are most proud of.
For the last seven years, I’ve been on the board of directors for an organization called Family Equality – a family-focused non-profit to support LGBTQ families. I’m also very proud of having started a volunteer organization through my last firm. We teamed up with nearby organizations and helped sort clothes for clothing donations, as well as plant gardens in the community. I found the local aspect of this organization to be particularly fulfilling.
- Why is the Fellows Program special to you?
The Fellows program provides opportunities to gather in real-time (which is something unique and hard to come by these days) with other legal professionals. We talk about how the law impacts different people in different ways and how we can make a positive impact. The Fellows program has opened my eyes to issues I hadn’t been exposed to before. I get to learn something new alongside colleagues who are just as interested in learning. The Fellows does a great job of fostering a sense of being both a lawyer and a citizen at the same time.
- Please share any favorite Fellows-related memory (an event, a fellow Fellow, etc.), or tell us about your favorite Fellows program/event/committee that you attended or worked on.
All of the Roundtables I’ve participated in have been so rewarding. The most recent panel I served on was about transgender experiences. It occurred two days after the election. It was amazing to have the chance to come together as a legal family and have this important discussion, especially during this particular moment in time. Roundtables are also awesome because you get to sit with judges, which is especially special for practicing lawyers. There’s no power dynamic or formalities at play whatsoever during these Roundtables.
- Do you have any thoughts about, or ideas or visions for, the future of the Fellows program?
The Fellows program has an important role of shining a light on the importance of the rule of law in our democracy. They help show how fragile our democracy is when we take that for granted. I would love to work with other Fellows to keep the topic of the rule of law central. After all, as lawyers, we have an obligation to stand up for the rule of law.
- Is there a fun fact about yourself that you would care to share with other Fellows?
I love to bake and my signature dish is a chocolate cinnamon babka.
