Letitia “Tish” James: A Fighter Against Corruption

Letitia “Tish” James, the first woman elected as New York’s Attorney General and the first woman of color to serve a statewide NY office, is a passionate public servant presently paving the way for future generations of women leaders.

She grew her burning passion for the legal profession in law school at Howard University and began practicing in New York soon after. Focused on helping others, she was first a public defender at the Legal Aid Society. She moved up the ranks and advocated for both welfare reform and health care developments. 

She continued to defend the rights of the underrepresented in her work leading the Brooklyn Regional Office of the New York Attorney General. In this role, she fought against predatory lending and other business practices that attacked first-time homeowners and minorities. 

Looking for a more direct voice in effecting our policies, she ran for and was elected to the New York City Council for Brooklyn. In this position for a decade, she again focused on housing and protected the rights of tenants, was a large influence behind a new recycling program throughout the borough, and fought corruption.

In 2013, the same year James received her Masters in Public Administration from Columbia University, she was also elected Public Advocate for New York City where she served two terms. She broke a ceiling as the first woman of color to hold a citywide elected position. In this role, she worked to address the gender wage gap, continued her protections for tenants, and fought for children with disabilities and in the foster care system. 

Now serving as New York's Attorney General since assuming office in 2019, her passion for defending her fellow Americans is still apparent. Recently, she’s fought against large tech companies in antitrust suits, investigating former President Trump’s investments, and taking steps against the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Tish James is a true inspiration for all aspiring attorneys and elected officials, challenging them to fight for their beliefs and standing up for what is right.