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Indiana Democratic Party chair
Valparaiso University Law School, 1990
Why did you decide to enter the legal profession?
It was not my first choice. I like to say that I started off as pre-med and mathematics but got lost in the ‘60s. By the time I went to law school, I was a single mother with three children and needed a job. Law school provided an opportunity and scholarship money. I discovered that I liked it. Sometimes life gives you an unexpected opportunity.
If you hadn’t pursued a legal career, what would you be doing?
If I hadn’t been an attorney, I might have been a politician anyway. I was always getting involved in local issues. Or I might have gone back to school for a mathematics-related field.
Who is someone who has inspired you in your career?
This is a very long list, and goes back over decades. When I first moved to Ogden Dunes, a scrappy older woman told me: “Well, you’re from University of Chicago, you must be a Democrat, you need to GET INVOLVED.” She spoke with capital letters, and she taught me many things. I also had one of my law school mentors advise me not to go work in Chicago, where I would be “just one more attorney.” When I got to the state Senate, I had many mentors who helped me, but I have to say I was inspired by Sen. Anita Bowser, a Constitutional scholar who was, at that time, the “conscience of the Senate.” There are many public figures who inspired me, but these are the people who were closer to my heart.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Think before you talk. Plan before you act. Remember your friends.
What makes a good lawyer/judge?
Empathy, intelligence and discipline. But the most important of these is empathy.
Tell us about a “lesson learned” moment you’ve had in your career.
Ok, here’s a semi-joke, although it didn’t seem funny at the time. Very early in my career, I left Portage for a hearing in South Bend. The judge said, “Ms. Tallian, we had that hearing an hour ago.” I never missed the time change again. But seriously, I think a real “lesson learned” was in the legislature, filing a mortgage foreclosure bill. It was during the recession period of 2008-10. Foreclosures were a huge problem, and everyone was filing bills. I thought I had a solution, and also filed a bill. I expected that my biggest adversary would be the banking industry. I took a deep breath, and went to confront them first. “Oh,” they said, “you are the only legislator who has actually talked to us!” We quickly became collaborators, and my bill was the only one to pass. The lesson: confront your biggest problems first and head-on; after that, the little ones fall into place.
Tell us something surprising about you.
I am a pretty open book, but I suppose people would be surprised to know that I have my own set of power tools, scuba dive, weave rugs and flunked retirement.
What is something you wish people knew about lawyers?
Most of us are empathetic hard-working local folks who just want to help people. Yes, I really do believe that.
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