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V O L . X X I V N O. X V I I A U G U S T 6 , 2 0 1 8 24 J oan Fortin's Maine roots run deep in Benton, where she spent her childhood on the family dairy farm, the second-oldest of five siblings. "I feel like I grew up in heaven," she says, recalling days of haying, milking cows, doing chores and riding bareback on a buckskin quarter horse. ere were tough times as well, like after her father survived a heart attack at age 54 and Fortin got up every day at 4:30 a.m. to help him milk the cows before heading to her internship at the U.S. District Court in Bangor for an 8 a.m. start. Fortin's parents still live on the farm, and the 52-year- old has come to see her mother as a role model. "I wouldn't have said that early on," she admits, "but in terms of being a strong woman with a very strong moral compass and very dedicated to fam- ily, I consider my mom a really important mentor." She also looks up to Patricia Peard, her long-time partner at Portland-based law firm Bernstein Shur, who just retired and whom Fortin calls a "lioness in the legal world." Fortin, a Bernstein Shur shareholder, board member and director of attorney recruiting, over- sees the firm's mentoring and summer associ- ate programs. Inside and outside the firm, she's regarded as a champion for women, diversity and inclusion and a mentor who's always generous with her time and sound advice. "Joan takes her role as a mentor quite seri- ously, not just in terms of your substantive legal development but also your development as a firm citizen and as a good person," says legislative and political practice group leader Kate Knox, whom Fortin encouraged to join the board eight years ago. "She guided me to a place where I'm one of the leaders of the firm," Knox says. A champion for diversity and inclusion in the legal field B y r e n e e c o r d e S Joan Fortin Shareholder, board member and director of attorney recruiting Bernstein Shur Bernstein Shur 100 Middle St., Portland Founded: 1915 Managing partner: Patrick J. Scully Attorneys: More than 110 lawyers serving clients from offices in Portland, Augusta and Manchester, N.H. It's Maine's largest law firm. Contact: 207-774-1200 / www.bernsteinshur.com P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Joan Fortin, shareholder, board member and director of attorney recruiting at Bernstein Shur, in the Portland office.