Partner & Regional Litigation Practice Group Leader | Foley & Lardner LLP

Monica Shelton Call is a lawyer, advocate and mentor. Call earned her undergraduate degree in political science and sociology from the University of Utah in 2001 while simultaneously working and interning with various nonprofits and government entities. She then earned her law degree from Stanford University in 2004 and began her legal practice in Richmond, Virginia. She later moved back to Salt Lake City to continue her career as a partner in law.

Call is a passionate voice for women in her field. “As part of the legal system, I think it is important for women to be represented in juries, on the bench as judges, and as lawyers representing clients,” she says. “Our legal system is an important reflection of our society, and if any group is underrepresented, the system will not function as well in helping individuals and businesses resolve their differences or pursue justice. Advocating for women in the legal industry has included recruiting and mentoring women through various phases of their careers. I have benefited from the mentorship of women lawyers in Utah and outside of the state and now serve that same role for the younger generation of women lawyers.”

Call also recognizes and speaks for the difficulties mothers face in the workforce as a working mother herself.

“For many women, one of the most difficult times in their career is when they have a young family,” she says. “Men and women face similar challenges in balancing parenthood and a career, but statistically, women often take on more of the tasks at home and suffer the most in their careers when they become parents. The more a workplace can be flexible during these years, the better for all employees. It was important for me to be part of a law firm that permitted lawyers to go on reduced schedules. That flexibility allowed me to balance work and family during some of those hard years. And I have been pleased to see more men take advantage of parental leave and reduced schedules so those programs can benefit all professionals—not just women.”

Call’s advocacy extends to every piece of her career. “Monica offers her clients and colleagues alike a rare combination,” wrote Foley & Lardner Partner Ken Black in her Women of the Year nomination. “She’s whip-smart. She’s tenacious in all the right ways. She’s unfailingly cheerful and relatable. She’s a leader and a role model. And she does it all with grace, humility and a heavy dose of good humor.”

Call dedicates a portion of her practice to pro-bono cases to provide legal representation to disadvantaged populations. Recently, her pro bono work has focused on representing survivors of human trafficking in expunging their criminal records and building new lives for themselves.

“The resilience and determination of these women inspires me,” Call says. “I am an advocate at heart and find fulfillment in helping my clients solve difficult problems and build their businesses.”

Connect with Monica Shelton Call on LinkedIn.