Women In Law Virtual Roundtable Q&A with Taryn Ourso

Taryn Ourso is an associate in the Dallas office of Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel, where she focuses on a range of litigation, including disputes related to asbestos exposure, toxic torts, personal injury, and complex civil litigation. Taryn is a 2018 summa cum laude graduate of the UNT Dallas College of Law. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2009. Before becoming an attorney, Taryn taught high school physics and chemistry in Mesquite and Plano public schools.

Here’s what Taryn had to say during our Women’s History Month Women In Law Roundtable Q&A.

Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel: Where do you think we are in terms of gender equality in the legal profession? How do you see the field growing and changing in the future, not just for women attorneys but all lawyers?  

Taryn Ourso: I’ve been fortunate to practice with people who treat others with professionalism and respect regardless of gender. But I think the legal profession has a long way to go when it comes to pregnant women and women with young children. I’ve seen too many brilliant, hardworking and highly capable women drop out of the profession or be passed over for promotions because they require flexibility or better benefits. These women are valuable, and we should come up with ways to keep them thriving in the profession. After all, problem solving is our specialty! We can and must do better.

WKPS: What personality characteristics or skills do you possess that you believe enabled your career to flourish?

TO: I’m naturally curious and love to learn. Law can be challenging, but it offers endless opportunities to learn new things. When I started practicing, it was overwhelming to think about everything I needed to learn how to do. It took courage to keep following the learning curve. By staying committed to learning and growing, I’ve become capable of more and more as time goes by. When you start to master skills, it’s a great feeling that keeps you going.

WKPS: Many issues that our firm tackles – like helping talc-exposure victims and survivors of birth defects and sex abuse – have unique implications for women. How important is the legal field to ensuring fair treatment for women and protecting their rights? Why is it important to have female attorneys involved in this litigation?

TO: When a legal issue uniquely affects women, I think female attorneys often naturally feel invested in the outcome and are motivated to achieve the right result. Today, women still battle oppressive laws designed to restrict their autonomy. Litigating these issues is a necessary step to driving change. When an issue disproportionately affects women, it’s crucial that women help tackle it because they’re affected by it in ways that men may not have the experience to completely understand.

WKPS: Is there a practice area you focus on that particularly affects women? Why is it important to you? What positive impacts have you been able to make through your work?

TO: I work on birth injury cases involving children who have permanent and disabling conditions caused by their parents’ workplace exposures to reproductive toxins. Despite their injuries, which can make everyday life a real challenge, their mothers go to great lengths to give them the best lives possible. I find that so inspirational. When working on their cases, I feel a true sense of purpose knowing my work may ultimately help ease the financial burden that birth injuries can cause over a child’s lifetime.

WKPS: What is the most interesting change you’ve seen in the legal field since starting your career?

TO: I find more lawyers are open to using technology to improve the way they work. Machine learning and AI tools are becoming more accepted, although we still have a lot to learn about how to best use these tools. But I’m optimistic that they’ll improve outcomes, especially in complex litigation involving hundreds of thousands of documents.

WKPS: What is one piece of advice you’ve received that you would pass on to law students and lawyers? Women law students and lawyers?

TO: Find joy in your work along the way – not just when you win big or achieve a good outcome. A big win is a short-lived thrill, but a lifetime of joyful work can be the ultimate thrill.

Check out our Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel Virtual Roundtable Q&A: Women In Law for more interviews with our attorneys.