Liliana Nini Carbone
I am the daughter of an Italian immigrant and an American Army brat; my father’s parents grew up in Southern Italy and in Buenos Aires, Argentina, while my mother’s parents grew up in coal country West Virgina. I was raised across coasts and countries: in Chicago, Honolulu, and Southern Italy. Like so many, my familial and personal background had an important influence on the way I grew to understand my place in, and responsibility, to the world around me.
I see my community as a global one, that is defined more by shared dreams and stories and needs, and not as a community defined by geography, language, or politic. I believe this background has made me more curious, open-minded, and adventurous, and my choice of studies and career are firmly rooted in my desire to be of service to the places and people that shaped me.
What motivated/inspired you to become an attorney?
I have always been curious about finding a way to make myself useful to a cause, a profession, and my community. Ultimately, I believe that my journey into the law came from my aspiration to be useful to as big of a community as possible.
In high school and college, my choice of extracurriculars and studies were frequently centered on advocacy. In high-school, I was the 2-Time State Champion in Lincoln & Douglas debate, a one-on-one competitive debate that centers on philosophical questions of how to resolve social challenges. In college, I majored in Political Science and Philosophy, and volunteered with at-risk youth and adolescent wards of the state. My love for community was driving me to understand and confront social injustice, and soon I decided that becoming a lawyer would allow me to apply my skills to my passions.
While in law school at Santa Clara Law, I had the opportunity to participate in the International Human Rights Clinic. This clinic allowed me to participate in a project with another clinic member, where we wrote an Amicus Brief to the International Court of Human Rights on behalf of a plaintiff in El Salvador. After two summers in a row of volunteering and interning with immigrations clinics and firms, this experience demonstrated for me that I my passion for social justice was not limited to immigration: I wanted to find my way into a career of plaintiffs' side civil litigation, so that I could advocate for clients of various backgrounds who were confronted by severe injustice at the hands of corporations and governments.
At Brayton Purcell I work in the Artificial Stone group, working on behalf of fabricators and installers of artificial stone products who have been diagnosed with a deadly, incurable disease called silicosis. It is inspiring to have the opportunity to help these individuals and their family hold companies, who made the decision to value their profit over the safety of the people who work on their products, accountable for the injustice our clients endure. As a new lawyer, I am driven to learn from the incredible team of lawyers at Brayton Purcell, to become as useful to this community of clients as I can.
What do you enjoy most about the work you do?
I enjoy the opportunity to get to know my clients, and problem.
What are your hobbies and interests?
My personal background also includes a penchant for adventure. I am (or was) a PADI certified Open-Water Scuba Diving instructor, with hundreds of dives under my belt. I am also a black belt in Taekwondo and have trained in Kumdo—an ancient Korean sword fighting martial art. Whenever I am back home in Honolulu, you can find me on strenuous hikes along high-ridges and following steep jungle trails to waterfalls.
I also love to listen to podcasts and read philosophy, crime mysteries, and the occasional sci-fi.
Education
Santa Clara University
- J.D. – 2023
Allegheny College
- Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. 2018
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association
Bar Admission
- California - 2024
Current Employment Position
- Associate
