Dawn Sestito

After considering a master's degree in English, Sestito chose the legal profession for its "real world consequences." Her career at O'Melveny & Myers LLP has led her to a diverse assortment of them spanning technology patent disputes, the Exxon Valdez oil spill and Title IX sexual assault policy.

Litigating across a range of fields helps Sestito "stay on my toes," she said, distinguishing her among lawyers who prefer narrow specialties.

"I'm always thinking outside the box because I have all these different issues coming up," she said.

In recent pro bono work for Latta v. Otter, Sestito helped convince the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overrule the State of Nevada's ban on same-sex marriage. Part of her strategy was to prove the ban amounted to stigmatizing gay couples since they already received a broad range of rights as domestic partners.

"We thought that was a strong indication that excluding same sex couples from marriage was just to stigmatize them," she said. "There could not possibly be a rationale for drawing this distinction."

Within a few days of the October decision, Nevada began issuing licenses, and Sesito's clients were the first to line up in Las Vegas.

The case drew on some of Sestito's previous work, including an amicus brief she wrote in 2012 that the 2nd Circuit quoted in its decision against the Defense of Marriage Act. Soon after, the Supreme Court struck down the act once and for all.

"Being able to concretely change people's lives was very rewarding," said Sestito, who is now scouting for another pro bono case. She anticipates continuing to advise colleges and universities on Title IX sexual assault guidelines, drawing on expertise in labor and employment law to craft optimal policies.

Meanwhile, the O'Melveny "lifer" (she began there as a law student in 1998) takes time to mentor UCLA law students assisting pro bono cases through the university's Ninth Circuit Appellate Advocacy Clinic in collaboration with her firm.

Sestito's advice to these future lawyers? "You'll be able to connect the dots. Don't feel like you need to be boxed in."

- Daina Solomon