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Her ever-present grin and flashing green eyes tell you immediately that Patti Cooksey loves her job. No.she adores her job. In these days of serial careers, it is increasingly rare to find a person who can boast of working with the same firm for almost 40 years.
Patti came to San Diego from Syracuse, New York. "I'd always thought about being a legal secretary," she says. After legal secretary training, she began working first for Dan Hedin in 1964, and a few years later for DeWitt "Dutch" Higgs. "These men were the best teachers I could have asked for," said Patti. "Insurance defense, general business, and now construction malpractice.it's all been interesting."
Some years later, Patti began assisting another young attorney, Mike Boyle, whom she still works for today. "Patti is incredible," says Mike enthusiastically. "In addition to being a warm person, she is a conscientious, dedicated professional who is totally focused on the clients' needs."
Patti has seen a great deal of change in San Diego's legal community and at HFM. "Things were often done with a hand shake or gentleman's agreement," says Patti. "Now it's big business."
"I'm proud of the way this firm has weathered the hard times," says Patti. "Because we all worked together, we managed to make it through those difficult times when other firms were folding."
Commitment has been a key component in Patti's personal life as well. She and her husband Richard have been married 32 years. Referring to both her marriage and career, Patti laughs, "I like change, but when I see a good thing, I stick with it!"
Over the years, Patti and Richard, who works in the DA's office, have balanced legal careers and marriage by taking time to travel. Some of their favorite adventures have been on motorcycles-and yes, Patti rode her own.
In stark contrast to her career, Patti sees retirement as a time for continual change. Her plan is to travel and ".not have to be anywhere at any particular time." But she is in no rush to begin that journey. According to Patti, "I've been fortunate to have two homes-one with Richard and one here at Higgs. I'm not in any hurry to change that. Looking back, I'd do it again in a heartbeat!"
Higgs, Fletcher & Mack has been serving the needs of San Diego businesses and residents since 1939, and offers a full range of legal services in both transactional and litigation matters. The Firm is committed to integrity, thoroughness, and care in striving to achieve outstanding results for clients.
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