Magistrate Laine McDonald ('06) began working for the Town of Marana before graduation and has been with the Town through a few bumpy spots, including the 2008 economic downturn and the current COVID-19 pandemic.

 

In the fall of her 3L year, Laine responded to a Town of Marana job posting through the Career Development Office for a position as an attorney. She was hired pending her bar results, and went to work in the legal department part-time for the spring semester. 

After passing the bar, Laine served as the front-line prosecutor for the Town of Marana's municipal court. She was later promoted to supervise the prosecutor's office and began doing civil work for various town departments as well. She was selected as Town Magistrate in 2015.

 

"The Town of Marana is a fantastic place to work. With a small legal department and a top notch Town Attorney and Deputy Town Attorney there wasn't room for advancement past my role as Senior Assistant Town Attorney, so when the Town Magistrate retired in 2015 I decided to apply for the job."

 

The most enjoyable aspect for Laine of being Town Magistrate is helping people understand the justice system.

 

"The majority of people who interact with the courts will do so at the limited jurisdiction court level, most of them without the assistance of counsel. I spend much of my time explaining court procedures to unrepresented defendants. And while that might sound tedious, it is quite rewarding to see a person who comes into court a bit afraid, and definitely confused, relax and leave understanding the process and having their opportunity to be heard in court."

 

Being the judge in a one-judge court in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic has required a fair amount of grit and creativity. Managing a busy caseload while keeping people safe has been challenging but Laine is proud of what has been accomplished by the Marana Municipal Court. 

"We have not turned anyone away who wants to be seen in court, while at the same time accommodating people who are not comfortable appearing in person through the use of technology, ensuring social distancing both for our court users and our staff, and being flexible with people's financial obligations during this challenging time."

 

She thinks that courts as a whole have learned how to better use technology because of the pandemic, along with limiting unnecessary court appearances. 

"These are things we plan to continue doing even after COVID-19 is under control in our area."

 

Laine's top advice for younger professionals and recent Arizona Law graduates to find legal mentors who will help their development as an attorney. 

"The attorneys I practiced with and against, and the judges I appeared in front of, shaped me as an attorney and have impacted my satisfaction with my career choices." 

And, if you can, find a job doing something you truly enjoy with people you enjoy working with. 

"My first job didn't come with a huge paycheck, but the experience I gained and the things I learned from my mentors have paid dividends."

 

Hear more from Laine in tomorrow's webinar.