Celebrating Black History Month: Employee Spotlight - Sandra M. Bonnick

This week we spotlight Sandra M. Bonnick, an experienced attorney who focuses her practice on general liability matters for local and federal government agencies, hospitals, nonprofits, and private medical practices. Sandra has handled every aspect of litigation, including appearances in state and federal courts, briefs, motion practice, and discovery. During her time as an executive agency counsel at the New York City Transit Authority Department of Law, she represented and defended transportation clients, including the New York City Transit Authority, Metropolitan Transit Authority, and Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority.

Q: Provide an overview of your tenure and growth as an attorney.

R: I have been a practicing attorney for over 20 years. I have always been a defense attorney in litigation. I started in medical malpractice defense and loved it because it dove-tailed with my love of science and medicine. But the law firm that I worked for had very few attorneys that were people of color and there was no one at the firm that cared about mentoring me. I wanted to do more challenging work like preparing and defending the medical providers for their depositions, but only Partners were allowed to do that. And, of course, I would never be allowed to become a trial attorney unless I was a Partner. None of the Partners looked like me. I later came to realize that my growth would be very limited if I remained at that law office and so I left and went to a more diverse firm, where I was allowed to start my training as a trial attorney. As a result of that experience, I have tried many cases, both private entities as well as public defendants like the New York City Transit Authority. I have done very well as a trial attorney, but it has become increasingly difficult to try cases while also being a full-time mother to my daughter.

Q: What advice would you have given yourself at the start of your career?

R: I would have told my young self to not get stressed out about things so easily. I have come to realize that things are never going to go exactly as we plan them. Unexpected things happen and you must be able to think on your feet and meet your challenges as they come.  As a young attorney, I stressed myself out a lot because I strived for perfection in all that I did.  But inevitably, things would go wrong and mess up my plans as life often does. I came to the realization that nothing was worth giving myself an ulcer or getting sick because I put so much pressure on myself. I continue to always do my best in all that I do, but I am ever mindful that life sometimes put obstacles in our way in order to make us stronger.  We must confront the challenges as they come.

Q: Who is a person in Black history that inspired you?

R: There have been so many wonderful pillars of inspiration for me as a person of color in America. One of the most inspirational Black figures in history for me was Harriet Tubman, who was a fearless warrior, who put her life on the line countless times in order to help black people escape from slavery.  She was also an early activist for Women’s rights. I just found it amazing that a black woman, who herself had been born a slave, had such courage and tenacity that she was not satisfied sitting back and enjoying her escape from slavery, but instead intentionally placed herself in danger many times in order to help others break the shackles of servitude.

Q: How has being a black woman influenced your career in the legal field?

R: I cannot lie and say that it has been an easy journey being a black woman in the legal profession. There have been times when I have been shocked at some of the stupid questions and ridiculous comments that have been posed to me, especially when I was starting my career. Luckily, I was always a person who had a strong sense of self, and I never allowed someone else’s uninformed opinions to affect how I perceived myself. Confidence in my abilities as an attorney has helped me to advocate zealously for my clients as well as stand up for things that I believe in, even if they may not be popular.

Q: A favorite mantra or quote.

R: Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.