Cynthia Asher

Tell us about your background.

I grew up in San Francisco and moved to Washington DC after college, where I worked for a nonprofit educational organization with a focus on law. I didn’t know any lawyers growing up, so the position was a crash course on the practice of law as I gained exposure to a variety of practitioners in both the public and private sectors, from law clerks to Supreme Court Justices. I enjoyed the energy of Washington DC and stayed for law school at Georgetown University Law Center. While in law school I took a health law and policy elective because healthcare reform was a hot-button topic much as it is today. That decision shaped my career as I went on to earn a Masters in Public Health at Johns Hopkins and work in the field of health law. Positions include working for a healthcare boutique law firm as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service.

What is it about teaching at the Law School that inspires or motivates you?

I’m inspired by students’ intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. I thoroughly enjoy the lightbulb moments during class discussions when a student understands a new concept after wrestling with it. I also enjoy seeing a student present an idea or belief and then work through the process of refining it based on discussion. Seeing students engaged and thinking never gets old.

What advice would you give someone just starting in the profession?

Your reputation is very important, and the legal community is smaller than you might think, particularly here in Nevada. You can be an effective advocate and still be respectful of opposing counsel. Always act in ways that protect your reputation.