Consuela Pinto is a partner at PintoBrown PLLC. She has been in practice for almost 30 years, and her experience includes representing employers on a nationwide basis in compliance reviews before the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and systemic investigations initiated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Consuela counsels clients on pay equity matters, conducts DE&I audits, and trains employees and managers on workplace compliance matters.
Prior to moving into private practice, Consuela was the Deputy Associate Solicitor in the Civil Rights and Labor Management Division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), where she advised DOL agencies on a wide range of regulatory, policy, and enforcement issues. Consuela is a leading expert on OFCCP and the Office of the Solicitor’s enforcement actions as they relate to federal contractors’ equal employment opportunity obligations.
In her free time, Consuela enjoys cooking, baking, kayaking, Pilates, and spending time with friends and family.
Consuela is a graduate of Boston University’s Questrom School of Business and Syracuse University’s College of Law and Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs. She was WBA’s president in the 2009-2010 bar year.
When did you join the WBA?
1996
In what committees/forums have you been involved?
It has been so long since I was a committee or forum member, I can’t recall the which groups I participated in. I’m not sure they still exist!
Why did you join the WBA?
I moved to Washington, DC immediately after graduating from law school in May 1995. Being new to DC, I did not have much of a community. A colleague suggested that I look into joining the WBA. I went to an event and almost 30 years later, I am still a member.
What benefits do you get from being a part of the WBA and why do you think others should join?
As a new lawyer, my involvement in the WBA gave me the opportunity to develop my presentation, leadership, and management skills. I have also benefited from having many outstanding mentors over the years, and I developed a network of talented professionals I can turn to with just about any question. But the greatest benefit that I will forever cherish are the friendships I have made over the years. The WBA is a sisterhood that I am fortunate to be a member of.
How has being a parent enhanced your career?
Becoming a parent taught me not to sweat the small stuff. I learned to set boundaries, stay focused on what I really needed to do, and to delegate the rest. I was more satisfied with where I was in my career and proud of the mom that I was able to be.
Do you have a mentor/hero?
I have had many amazing mentors in my life going as far back as high school. Regardless of how or when we met, each mentor had a profound impact on who I am as a person, a professional, and a lawyer.
What words of advice do you have for women new to the profession?
There is no one career path that defines a successful lawyer. You will be successful when you do what you love.
What is the best advice you have received?
Know when to stop talking and listen.