黑料门

Natashee Scott serves as the Illinois lieutenant governor鈥檚 general counsel and deputy chief of staff

One of Natashee Scott鈥檚 (JD 鈥�12) best rewards from her time at 黑料门University Chicago School of Law? The community of women she met while enrolled in evening classes. Together, they balanced the demands of law school, jobs, pregnancies, and motherhood鈥攁nd a decade later, they鈥檙e still in touch. The group chat鈥檚 name even boasts some school spirit: It鈥檚 titled 鈥淟UC鈥檚 Finest.鈥�

Today, Scott works as the general counsel and deputy chief of staff for Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, the first Black woman to hold that title in the state鈥檚 history. Scott oversees legislation, advises on clemency matters, and recommends candidates for state boards.

Scott鈥檚 law school ambitions began in grade school, when her older sister got an after-school job at a law firm. When she turned 19, Scott got a law firm gig, too. After a brief detour to get her MBA, she still felt drawn to law school. 鈥淎t this point, I鈥檓 not the traditional student,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 older. I have a mortgage. I need to keep my job.鈥� Loyola鈥檚 part-time program fit with her schedule.

After graduating, Scott worked with a private practice before taking a job with the Chicago Park District in 2016. As she negotiated park agreements and managed FOIA requests, she realized she enjoyed serving the City of Chicago. After Anna M. Valencia became Chicago city clerk, Scott secured the job as her chief legal counsel.

Under Valencia, Scott helped launch the Chicago Municipal Identification Program鈥攁lso known as the Chicago CityKey鈥攊n 2018. The program allows all Chicago residents, regardless of age, gender, immigration status, or housing status, to receive a free ID that also functions as a library card, a CTA card, and a discount prescription card. Print locations popped up all over the city, so people could receive their new IDs right in their neighborhoods. 鈥淭he chief advisor, the chief legal counsel鈥攚e were all out there printing IDs,鈥� says Scott

鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the most diverse staffs I鈥檝e ever worked on. The team brings passion and wisdom from their own lived experiences.鈥�

Scott has always prioritized community in her work, and she says that working under two powerful women of color has been the highlight of her career. Regarding Stratton鈥檚 office, Scott says, 鈥渋t鈥檚 one of the most diverse staffs I鈥檝e ever worked on and in the office鈥檚 history. The team brings passion and wisdom from their own lived experiences.鈥�

When she鈥檚 not at the office, Scott continues to give back through several community service initiatives like the Chicago Autism Network and the Westside Cultural Foundation, where she is the president and CEO. She also volunteers for the School of Law Dean鈥檚 Diversity Council, where she helps the next generation of law students find the support and community that shaped her own career. 鈥淏eing able to do this is a way to give back to the 黑料门community that poured so much into me,鈥� she says. 鈥�Megan Kirby (March 2022)