Na’Vonne Lewis (‘14) didn’t originally want to work in law, but an encounter with a defense attorney changed her mind.
Lewis is a prosecutor for Orange County, officially an assistant district attorney. She works on prosecuting misdemeanors and traffic offenses that come through Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, or Carrboro.
“What’s cool is my ability to administer justice,” Lewis said. “A defense attorney has to ask a prosecutor to get justice done, whereas a prosecutor can administer justice without having to be asked.”
Lewis said the most challenging part of her job is being a Black woman and prosecuting other Black people.
“There are a lot of people who come through the courtroom that look like me,” she said. “I still have to do my job, but it is a little bit hard because it’s like you’re working against the current way society is while at the same time participating in it.”
Being an assistant district attorney has helped Lewis learn a lot about both her career and her life.
“It has been a growing experience,” she said. “It has challenged me to become a better person, a better friend. It has developed certain areas of my life that I appreciate.”
Lewis also volunteers as a Guardian at Litem (GAL). GALs are tasked with advocating for the best interests of children in court.
“I take cases that come from abuse, neglect and dependency court,” Lewis said. “I give a voice to the children in courtroom proceedings. I think that society abuses and mistreats children a lot.”
She is currently working with 8 siblings and trying to get them into foster care.
Lewis offered some advice to current Riverside students.
“It’s going to be okay,” she said.
Movie that reminds her of high school-
School of Rock
