Success = Collaboration + Self-Assurance

Hannah Sweiss, Partner, Woodland Hills | Los Angeles

I joined Fisher Phillips because it has excellent attorneys who are also nice people.

I originally practiced at a full-service firm where I loved doing employment defense cases. I already had a really good impression of Fisher Phillips after doing some work with attorneys here even before joining. Ultimately, I was drawn to this firm because they do great work, have a great reputation, and also are great people.

Fisher Phillips never looks at somebody and says, “you can’t.” They look to everybody and say, “you can.”

It’s a combination of the people, the collaboration, the challenge, and the opportunity the firm provides. Here, if you want to, you can. And I think that's been the most amazing thing about my experience here at Fisher Phillips. I think it’s one of the most amazing things I’ve seen in my career.

COVID-19 opened my eyes to a whole other world in employment law.

I joined Fisher Phillips right before the pandemic and was able to jump in with our team to look at all these new laws that were constantly coming down. Everyone was trying to figure out exactly what to do and how best to be a valuable resource for clients. We worked across the entire firm to come up with solutions. I also got to work with more healthcare clients, which gave me a lot of insight into their needs and led me into the firm’s healthcare practice. Dealing with all the unknowns was a definite challenge but also a reward.

Be dedicated and true to yourself.

I’d tell anyone looking for a career in employment law – and a legal career in general – to be true to yourself and to your ethics. You're a professional and it's very important to use your own judgment. That’s always kept me in good stead and helped me develop my own style, which may not look like everybody else's but it's what makes me most comfortable. It’s also important to be sure about what you're saying before you say it. That means really looking into and researching whatever it is. When you have that and convey it in your style, it's going to come out effectively. Always look, always question, and make sure you aren't just relying on somebody else or something else.

I’m one of seven children and the first of my family to be born in America.

I’m someone who didn't know from a young age that I was going to be a lawyer. But when I look back now, I realize my background shaped my career. As one of seven children who grew up in some different places, I always needed to advocate for myself and problem solve while growing up, skills that certainly help me today.

I have two daughters, one who is about to go to high school and another who’s not yet in kindergarten. So, that’s two very different ages and they both definitely keep me busy outside of work. I was in law school when I had my older daughter, so she's been with me throughout my whole career. I think she's already gone to law school a little bit!