ISBA Development Site
This website is for ISBA staff use only. All visitors should return to the main ISBA website.
This website is for ISBA staff use only. All visitors should return to the main ISBA website.
I met with one of our new members, Margaret Manetti of Codilis & Associates. We had a nice lunch and talked about her practice, family and interests.
Q: What area of law do you practice?
A: Consumer Finance Litigation. We represent the plaintiff side, the banking industry, in foreclosures and real estate actions.
Q: What do you enjoy about it?
A: There has been so much new law--appellate decisions, Supreme Court cases and rules, and new statutes. It has really evolved and touched on issues that affect the spectrum of litigation.
Q: Tell me about your family?
A: I’m married to a lawyer, who I actually met at the Daley Center, and have worked with the last 6 1/2 years. We left Chicago for Naperville just before Louis, our four-year-old son, was born. We also have a daughter, Patricia, who is 2 ½. I love working with my husband—we bounce ideas off each other, we give each other advice, and, we just get to be around each other.
Q: Have you managed to “balance” your work and family life?
A: First, my husband is great and a total partner. We have been fortunate enough to have family close by. And very importantly, my firm offered flexible hours. This allowed me to adjust to being a working mom and I was able to work mid-time until I decided, after accepting a promotion and the responsibility with that, to come back full time. And sure it can get stressful, but I realize that I am blessed to have the “problems” that I have.
Q: What advice do you have for other working moms?
A: Reach out to each other for support, advice, and a break.
Q: What advice did you get?
A: The advice I received from my family was not to go back to work, so while I did not listen to that, I did ask and get the flex hours. Professionally, I did not know many other working moms when I first went back.
Q: What got you interested in joining Women and the Law?
A: I wanted to reach out to other women lawyers that I have not met yet, including outside of the Chicago-land area. I also like that WATL seems to offer opportunities other Bar Associations do not and it is deeply committed to women lawyer’s influence on the law.
Q: What are you hoping to contribute to the committee?
A: I like to write, so I am hoping to write some book reviews, podcast reviews and perhaps interview some interesting women leaders in the law. Women leadership development is something I am interested in and that I want to further.
Q: Tell me about your involvement in Women’s Bar Association of Illinois?
A: I became active in that just over a year ago. Right now I am a co-chair of the top women in law leadership award and on the committee for judicial evaluations. Last year, I completed the Leadership Institute with Andrea Kramer, and now, as an alumni of the program, I am working to develop it for the next year.
Q: Do you have any fun summer travel plans?
A: Lots of Naperville with the family. Beyond that, just a quick trip to friend’s house in the southwest area of Michigan.
Q: What women’s issue is of most interest or concern to you?
A: Equality in the workforce but not just limited to the field of law. I want there to be opportunities for my daughter that were not necessarily available to me or to those working before me.
Q: What are your top three book recommendations?
A: Breaking Through Bias, by Andrea Kramer and Al Harris; Lean In, by Sheryl Sandberg; and Presence, by Amy Cuddy.