As an employee network with a mission to encourage, engage, and inspire women across the US organization, Power of Women honors National Women’s History Month by recognizing women who are known to be both a valued colleague and role model by many. Get to know these inspiring women each representing one of our employee networks. Today, they are pleased to feature Clare Priest on behalf of our Proud & Professional employee network (for our LGBTQIA+ community and their allies)!
Clare is Coverage Counsel in the Claims Legal Group, where she provides legal advice on coverage issues and extracontractual litigation for the Environmental, Accident & Health, Public Entities, and Property & Casualty Liability claims teams. She began her career as an associate at a large law firm in Minneapolis in the construction and business litigation groups. She then served as a career law clerk to the Honorable Michael J. Davis, District of Minnesota, for 18 years, where she had the opportunity to work on multiple multidistrict litigations, criminal, civil, and admiralty jury and bench trials, and a wide variety of cases from terrorism to patent to insurance coverage. Clare joined Intact in 2022 and says that she loves her role where she can assist adjusters in tackling the thorniest coverage questions and help craft practical strategies for navigating complex legal issues. Clare lives in Chanhassen, Minnesota, with her wife, Chris, their daughter, Athena, and son, Chiron. She loves writing urban fantasy fiction and running in the woods, and she has also been learning to play the violin these last few years, with the goal of playing some rousing fiddle music one day.
What does women empowerment mean to you?
Women empowerment means that women gain power over their own lives both inside and outside of work. In the career context, women empowerment is the ability to choose our own definition of success, and the opportunity to pursue that goal.
What challenges have you had to face in your career? How did you overcome them?
It was a challenge to make the decision to move on from a previous career position as a career law clerk where I had interesting and deeply meaningful work with fantastic colleagues. It was difficult to leave what was comfortable and familiar to pursue career goals in a new arena. Wise counsel from a group of supportive friends who know me, challenge me, and cheerlead was invaluable in making that leap.
How do you balance career, personal life, and passions?
I am never able to achieve perfect balance. I have learned to accept that life has different stages, and there is no one unchanging goal of “balance.” I am currently in a life stage where career and family are weighted heavily, and I spend less time with friends or pursuing passions than I would like to if I had infinite time and resources. But this life stage will change one day, too, so I embrace where I am at the moment.
What advice would you give to young women just starting their career?
Keep growing and allow your goals and passions to change. My mother returned to school to become a math teacher when I was a child and had a fulfilling career as a math teacher in Maine and around the world. After I started my own legal career, she went to law school and had a fantastic career as an attorney in rural Maine representing children as their court-appointed attorney. So, it is never too late to change career paths!
What women leaders inspire you?
The Honorable Kate Menendez, District of Minnesota, has been an inspiration to me throughout my career. I was lucky to see her practice as an assistant federal defender, where she was known as a brilliant attorney, zealous advocate, and kind person. As an officer of the court, every representation she made could be trusted and relied upon. As a federal magistrate judge she was known as thoughtful, practical, and fair. And now as a federal judge, she continues to be an exceptional legal thinker, a leader who is always guided by the goal of justice, and a person of integrity who is respectful and compassionate to every person in the courthouse.
Thank you, Clare, for sharing more about yourself and your career experience! Power of Women appreciates your support and participation in celebrating National Women’s History Month.