When Stacey Jue began her career as a lawyer, she was advised to prepare herself to make a lot of sacrifices.
“I said, ‘Game on! Let’s make this work,’” Jue recalled.
She’s assistant general counsel at ABM Industries Inc. (NYSE: ABM), where she’s responsible for labor and employment matters in the industry groups of Business & Industry and Healthcare.
The matters range from audits to class-action litigation to state and federal agency charges. Jue has overseen as many as 108 legal matters at a given time.
She’s also a mother of three younger than 6, including a 10 month old.
“They have taught me the meaning of unconditional love and the importance of multi-tasking,” Jue said.
“Thanks to them, I know I can take a 5 or 6 a.m. call from the East Coast, feed my baby, prepare lunches, remember who has crazy-sock day, homework, who has a doctor’s appointment, and all before I walk in the door at 8 a.m. for my first morning meeting.
“Even though my shoes may not match or I have a bib on my shoulder, I am there first thing in the morning in the office.”
Thus far, she’s winning the game, as evidenced by being honored at the Business Journal’s ninth annual General Counsel Awards in the specialty counsel category (see stories on the other winners, pages 1, 4, 8, and 10).
“It’s a tremendous honor,” she told the audience of 400 at Hotel Irvine on Nov. 13. “It’s really hard to believe I’m standing here.”
Benefits of Hard Work
Jue’s grandfather emigrated from China to the U.S. when he was a little boy as the family sought the American dream. He joined the Army and later had the opportunity to buy land and open a grocery store in Earle, Ark., where Jue’s mother was raised.
Her parents, Albert and Virginia, moved to Huntington Beach, where she grew up as a competitive dancer, studying both ballet and tap dance. She also played tennis throughout high school. She praised her parents, who attended the event, for “sacrificing so much to get me here.”
“My parents instilled in me at a young age [a trait] to work hard, and encouraged me to pursue my dreams,” she said.
She earned degrees in criminology and social sciences from the University of California-Irvine, followed by a JD from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.
Why did she become a lawyer?
“Being an attorney offered a wide range of opportunities to interact with and help people, and I enjoy analyzing issues and coming up with solutions,” she said.
“I love being a lawyer.”
Key Business Partner
Jue was an associate at Payne & Fears LLP from 2003 to 2006 and a senior attorney at FedEx from 2006 to 2011, where she litigated cases in-house and served as defense counsel in jury and bench trials.
In 2011, she joined ABM, a provider of maintenance and facility services with revenue of approximately $4.9 billion and more than 100,000 employees.
Jue praised her team of five in-house lawyers and three legal assistants for helping her manage the multi-tasking.
“She has served as a key business partner in providing legal counsel and bridging the gap between business goals and legal risk,” ABM said in an emailed statement.
“Ms. Jue exemplifies the ability to balance work and life commitments while still finding time to perform pro bono work on behalf of an entire city.”
That city was the Arkansas town of Earle, where her uncle lives. The residents asked Jue to help the town’s only food store retain its ability to accept government benefits previously known as food stamps.
“I’m humbled and flattered that others know that they can call upon me when they need help.”
A resident of Irvine, Jue is married to another lawyer, Sean Paisan. In her spare time, she volunteers at her children’s schools.
“It doesn’t feel like volunteering. If I can help someone and am able to do it, I’ll always do my best.”
