Patrice Ray
Patrice Ray joined Beth Leone and Jennifer Seate at Hardison & Leone, LLP in August of 2001. A native of Newton Grove, North Carolina, she moved to Raleigh when the main the office of Hardison & Leone moved to Raleigh in 2002. Patrice later joined Beth and Jennifer at Leone Noble & Seate, LLP in May of 2007. Patrice has Bachelors of Arts degrees in Psychology and Sociology from Wake Forest University. She attended law school at North Carolina Central School of Law while working full time, and graduated in May of 2009. When Patrice is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family. For professional information about Patrice, please click here.
Q: How long have you been with LN&S?
A: I began working with Beth and Jennifer at Hardison & Leone, LLP in August of 2001. I later joined LN&S in May of 2007. I’ve worked with Beth and Jennifer for a total of eight years.
Q: Why did you decide to become a lawyer?
A: When I was growing up, there weren’t very many positive images of African American in television. In the early 80s, The Cosby Show was the first show that presented positive images of African Americans. When I saw “Claire Huxtable” (played by Felicia Rashad), an intelligent African American attorney, I knew that that was what I wanted to do. As I grew older, “attorney” became more than just a character for me. I began to see the good that attorneys did for people who did not have or could not find a voice of their own. Growing up, I had first-hand knowledge of the effect that domestic violence can have on the lives of those involved. Those experiences helped to further solidify my determination to use the law to help those in need.
Q: What brought you to LN&S?
A: I wanted to work for a law firm that valued my contributions as an employee but also recognized I am a person, not just an employee.
Q: How important is it to have a team environment to support you at the firm?
A: Having a team environment is extremely important for an effective law practice. As a former staff person, it’s important to feel like what you do matters to your supervisor, the client, and the firm as a whole. As an attorney, it’s important to realize that your staff works to help you achieve the best possible outcome for your client, and in effect, helps to make you who you are as an attorney. As a legal colleague, it’s good to know that you have colleagues who support you and have your back and that you are there to do the same for them.
Q: Describe anyone who stands out for you as being influential in your life?
A: There are several people who have been very influential in my life. My grandmother taught me patience and compassion for others. From my mother, I learned about hard-work, determination, and defying the odds. My mother also sparked my thirst for knowledge. Everything I know about personal injuries and how law firms operate, I learned from Jennifer and Beth.
Q: What are the most important values you believe are necessary for the firm?
A: The key values for this firm are compassion and self-worth. I believe that these values are important because in order to do any type of plaintiff’s work, you must have compassion for your clients. If you believe in your own self-worth, you will work hard and put your best foot forward so that you can effectively advocate for your client, whether it’s finalizing a letter or giving an opening statement.
Q: What life experiences have helped you become a better lawyer (family, sports, volunteering, challenges)?
A: I always consider myself a work in progress and try to learn from all of my life experiences, both personally and professionally.
Q: How do you like to spend your personal time away from the firm?
A: I’m slowly re-building my personal time since graduating from law school. While I attended law school, I worked full-time, so I didn’t have much personal time left after working and studying. Now that I have more free time, I enjoy watching and attending sports events, going on weekend excursions, and spending time with my long-time partner Jonathan and our son, Jacobi.
Q: What would you like your legacy to be?
A: I would like my legacy to be that I made a difference in someone else’s life.
Q: What are your major practice areas?
A: Workers compensation, personal injury.
Q: Why do you like these practice areas?
A: I have worked primarily in personal injury throughout my employment with Hardison & Leone, and later Leone Noble & Seate. I enjoy the challenge of learning a new practice area and enhancing my knowledge of the law.
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