Sarah Shields, Staff Attorney to Hamilton Superior Courts 4, 5, 6, and 7
What is your career background?
I began my career in a mid-sized insurance defense firm, where I represented clients in matters involving slip-and-falls, worker’s compensation, insurance coverage, and legal malpractice, to name a few. From there, I moved to practicing in the public sector as a Deputy Attorney General, where my caseload again covered a broad range, including judicial reviews of administrative agency actions, civil mental health commitments, constitutionality claims, and other complex state and federal litigation. I went back to private practice in a small firm doing family law and criminal defense in Hamilton County, and now I support four of our Superior Court Judges as a staff attorney. My diverse experience allows me to jump in on any case that comes before our courts and assist with research, drafting orders, and serving as judge pro tempore as needed.
What do you find most rewarding about your job?
The ability to help people reach a resolution in their cases, and to work with an incredible team of judges and their staff. I learn something new almost every day.
What do you like to do outside of work?
My favorite way to unwind is through exercise. I am a long-distance runner and hope to complete all of the World Marathon Majors in my lifetime. So far, I’ve done Chicago (2017), Berlin (2023), and New York City (2024). My next race is the Big Sur International Marathon in California, so I may start working on a 50-states goal too! And for recovery, I enjoy hot yoga and pilates.
Do you have any advice for young lawyers?
Make as many friends as you can in law school. Even though the environment is competitive, you will all be colleagues of the bar once you graduate, and you never know who you may run into or want to reconnect with in the future.
What's something you've always wanted to do, but haven't done yet?
I would love to take my husband and children to Aix-en-Provence, France, where I studied abroad in college – and many more cities around the world, for that matter!
What is a fun fact about you?
I am an IndyCar racing fan. I have fond memories of watching the Indy 500 with my family when I was little. In my senior year of college, I was selected as a 500 Festival Princess, which was a childhood dream of mine. To me, the month of May is the most wonderful time of the year and I love sharing all of the festivities with my children.
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