Gladys Miles ‘95
Why did you decide to earn a J.D.?
As a first-generation American, whose family immigrated to the United States when I was only 3 years old, there were only two career paths that were widely acceptable: medicine and law. I chose to pursue a Juris Doctor because it offered me a meaningful opportunity to serve others, to effectuate positive changes, earn a respectable living, and make a lasting impact.
What was your experience like at UDSL?
My experience at the University of Dayton School of Law was very positive. During law school, I clerked for the Administrative Judge of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, I was a quarterfinalist in the Frederick Douglass Moot Court competition, and I served on the Moot Court Board. I also supported the law school’s recruitment efforts by visiting colleges and talking to prospective law students. These experiences allowed me to hone my professional skills, develop interpersonal skills, and build meaningful relationships.
How has the J.D. helped with your career and what are you doing now?
During the 1990s, concerns about the disproportionate placement of landfills and dumpsites in minority communities were the subject of significant litigation and public debate. I found the conversation to be quite interesting. My professors and the Black Law Students Association helped me bring attorneys, community stakeholders, and representatives from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to campus to have meaningful dialogue about environmental racism (now referred to as environmental justice).
Professors also played key roles in helping me secure a summer internship with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Multimedia Enforcement Division. This internship provided the foundational skills, knowledge, and professional exposure that shaped my career trajectory, opening the doors to public service. I started my federal legal career with the U.S. Coast Guard, Chief Administrative Law Judge Office and, later, joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of General Counsel, where I continue to build upon the public service principles that were first nurtured during law school.
What advice would you give a future lawyer?
My advice is twofold: (1) relationships matter, and (2) seize every opportunity that comes your way.
When I started law school, I was primarily interested in real estate and business. However, numerous conversations with professors exposed me to new possibilities and career options that I might not have otherwise pursued.
Many of the opportunities that shaped my public service career come from the relationships I built and my willingness to take chances. My summer internship with the EPA was unpaid, so I worked evenings in retail to save money for the upcoming school year. I learned about paid clerkships through discussions with Career Services and former clerks. Moreover, although my position with the Coast Guard began as a term appointment, I did not let the short-term nature of the position deter me from submitting my application. As the workload grew, and because they were pleased with my work, the position was converted into a permanent role with a career ladder.
These experiences reinforced an important lesson: meaningful relationships can open doors and create opportunities that can lead to rewarding career paths.