Cora Whitney, 2019 Leaders in Law

Dedication from an early age

Carving her own path while following her father’s lead

From the age of 12, Cora Whitney knew she wanted to practice law.

“My dad is a judge, so I grew up watching him in court,” she says. “I really enjoyed that, and it inspired me to go into law.”

Although her new aspirations derailed plans made by the 11-year-old version of herself to become a ballerina, Whitney continued to pursue a career in law throughout high school, throughout her time at Washington State University and then at Gonzaga University School of Law.

Whitney admits that following in her father’s footsteps is a bit stereotypical, but she says her father is one of the most outgoing, welcoming people she knows, and his philosophy to be the most prepared person in the room has driven her work ethic.

After receiving her law degree, Whitney began her career at a large corporate law firm in Spokane, Washington, where she practiced for more than five years. But when a friend from law school told her about an opening at Smith + Malek, Whitney says the decision was an easy one to make.

“I love the people that I work with, and I love the opportunity to work each day to make the world a better place,” Whitney says.

Her role at Smith + Malek allows Whitney the opportunity to mentor other women too, something she says is very rewarding.

“Women have a hard enough time competing in a male-dominated field; we should and can be inspirations to each other to help us all succeed,” she says.

“To see women I helped to influence, even in a small way, succeed in making the legal profession better is all I can hope for in my career,” she adds.

Lisa K. Moline, an attorney at Smith + Malek, is one of the women Whitney has mentored. Moline says Whitney’s mentoring extends well beyond her knowledge of law.

“She mentors me on how to be a good attorney and community leader. This includes navigating the balance of family obligations and work commitments, as well as the balance of a law practice and community involvement,” Moline says. “In short, I am a better attorney because of (her).”

Whitney also hopes to make the world a better place for her daughter and to leave a legacy of which she can be proud.

“Right now, I spend almost all of my time outside of work playing with my 1-year-old daughter,” Whitney says. “I believe that you can be both a good mom and good attorney. Although it’s hard to do, it’s what I strive to do every single day.”