Our Interview With Chloé Woods, President Of The Arizona Black Bar

Chloé Woods is the President of the Arizona Black Bar.

Can you share your journey into law and what inspired you to pursue this career? Looking back, what experiences most impacted your path to law school and the legal profession?

My father was a huge influence and supporter of my dream to become a lawyer. As a kid, he would write me letters that included new/difficult words which I would have to look up in the dictionary, find a synonym in the thesaurus, and use my new vocabulary in my letter responding to his. We did this almost weekly.

Although I always knew I wanted to practice law, I worked for 5 years after undergrad. The reason: imposter syndrome. I kept doubting my capability to compete and succeed in law school, and told myself, "I wasn't ready." that journey spawned various career moves and a collection of graduate degrees, but all throughout, I embraced servant leadership, civic engagement, volunteerism, community organizing, and coalition building.  I found this work rewarding and fulfilling and knew that public service would be integral to the kind of lawyer I would be. Throughout my career working in government and public policy, serving as an Air Force JAG, leading a bar association, practicing in the public and private sectors, and advocating for individuals and communities whose voices are too often overlooked, I learned that a law degree is much more than a credential. It is a platform from which we can solve problems, open doors, challenge inequities, and serve others. That understanding continues to guide my career and my leadership today.  

Many aspiring law students are interested in public service careers. What advice would you give applicants hoping to enter this field, and how can they best prepare for the path to law school?

I would encourage aspiring public-interest lawyers to begin serving before they ever enter a law school classroom. Volunteer. Work in your community. Attend public meetings. Intern with a government agency, nonprofit, elected official, legal-services organization, or advocacy group. Learn how laws and policies actually affect people in their everyday lives.

Public service requires more than academic excellence. It requires empathy, intellectual curiosity, resilience, humility, and the ability to listen to people whose experiences may be very different from your own.

I would also tell students not to feel pressured to have their entire careers mapped out before law school. My own career has crossed the military, government, nonprofit leadership, regulatory and environmental law, litigation, private practice, and bar leadership. Each experience gave me skills that made me more effective in the next. Focus on becoming an excellent writer, a critical thinker, and a person others can trust. Then remain open to where your skills can be of greatest service.

The Arizona Black Bar plays an important role in supporting legal professionals and expanding opportunities for Black professionals in the field. Could you tell us more about the organization’s mission, and how law students and early-career attorneys can get involved?

The Arizona Black Bar is fundamentally about community, opportunity, and service. We work to support and advance Black attorneys and legal professionals while strengthening the pipeline into the profession, promoting access to justice, and using our collective voice to serve the broader community.

During my presidency, I have emphasized “I.M.P.A.C.T. — Inclusivity, Mentorship, Pro Bono Service, Access to Justice, Community, and Transparency.” That framework reflects my belief that a bar association should not simply be a professional network; it should be a vehicle for meaningful service and lasting change.

For law students and newer attorneys, my message is simple: You do not have to wait until you have a title to lead! Join us. Attend a program. Volunteer at a legal clinic. Find a mentor—and, as you advance, become one. Serve on a committee. Build relationships across generations of lawyers. Some of the most meaningful opportunities in my career have come from showing up, doing the work, and building authentic relationships through service. We want the next generation not simply to have a seat at the table, but to be prepared to lead when they get there.

For prospective law students navigating the admissions process, what qualities, experiences, or personal attributes do you believe contribute most to long-term success in law school and a meaningful legal career?

Academic ability matters, but the qualities that sustain a legal career are often much broader: resilience, discipline, curiosity, integrity, empathy, and a willingness to keep learning.

I also believe strongly in knowing your “why.” Law school is demanding, and the profession can be even more so. Prestige, titles, and accolades may open doors, but they are rarely enough to sustain a meaningful career. A strong sense of purpose gives you something deeper to return to when the work becomes difficult.

Finally, I would encourage prospective students not to underestimate the value of their own lived experiences. The profession does not need everyone to arrive with the same story. We need lawyers who understand different communities, ask different questions, and see problems from different perspectives. Some of the experiences that may make you feel different entering law school may ultimately become the very experiences that make you an exceptional advocate and leader.

For me, success in this profession has become less about what I can accomplish individually and more about what I can make possible for others. The most meaningful legal careers are not simply built by collecting achievements; they are built by leaving institutions, communities, and people better than we found them.

We're proud to feature insights from leaders like Chloé Woods to help inspire future lawyers on their journey to law school.