From courtrooms to coworking: Meet Attorney Alexis Viera

Juggling court hearings, client meetings, and late-night trial prep is all in a day’s work for Private Attorney Alexis Vieira. But even with the demands of juvenile law, she’s found a way to stay productive and keep things moving at Groundwork. Read on to learn more about Alexis and her go-to tips for staying on top of it all.

What’s your profession?

I am a private attorney and I am on the Bristol County Child and Family Law and Bar Advocate Panels. Basically a juvenile law attorney to put it simply. 

Describe a typical work day for you.

A typical day for me usually starts in the courthouse. I have cases in the Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton juvenile courts, so if I have a case on that day then that is where I head to first. Once I finish my hearings for the day I will either head to a client meeting or to the office to get some work done like trial preparation or a number of other things. I am a night owl so I will often work later in the night. 

What’s the biggest challenge you face at your job?

The biggest challenge that I face daily is getting office work done. I have been doing a lot of trial work lately and it is really hard to sit at my desk for hours prepping for that. 

Do you have a morning routine? 

Honestly I wish I could say I did but no, or lets say not yet. I usually snooze my alarm about 6 times and only have enough time to wake up and get ready for the day, which involves giving my cat a lot of love, showering, putting on some makeup and doing my hair. This is something I am really trying to change. I am hopeful that soon I will have a routine that involves giving myself a couple hours in the morning to workout, eat healthy and not have to rush out of my house. 

What are your favorite productivity tips or hacks? 

The “Calm Study Music” playlist by Study Music on Apple Music is a necessity for me to be able to really hone in on my office work. If not that playlist then any instrumental playlist without words (bridgerton or harry potter soundtracks) works too. 

I also always need a drink by my side when working whether it is an iced coffee or an Alani Nu.

Lastly, doing work in periods is super helpful for me – working for 30 minutes and breaking for 10. 

What do you listen to during the day?

I love throwback R&B, current R&B or hip hop. Some of my favorite artists are The Weeknd, PartyNextDoor, SZA, Summer Walker, Jhene Aiko, Don Toliver,  Ariana Grande, and that list could go on for days. 

How do you benefit from using a coworking space?

Before I became a member at Groundwork I would often work from home when I wasn’t at court or a client meeting and my productivity levels were horrible. Being at home made it impossible to get anything done because there were too many distractions around me. Now that I am at Groundwork I have found that I have gotten so much more done during the day.

When I worked from home I would often go to coffee shops to work around people that were also working for motivation and here at Groundwork that is what I get everyday. It really helps seeing others around me getting stuff done and motivates me to do the same. 

In the short time I have been here I have also been able to network and I think that is extremely important when owning a business. You get to meet so many new people with all different types of experiences and amazing stories. 

What’s in your digital toolbox?

All of my devices are Apple products and they are all linked together with iCloud. Everything I need for work can be digitally accessed on all of my devices which is a big relief knowing I will have what I need if I end up forgetting something at home. 

What inspires you? 

Powerful women. Women have always had many setbacks in life compared to men and there are so many extraordinary women that have made it possible for us to do things in life that we were never able to do in the past, along with women who still constantly fight every day to keep it this way.  From the past with Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony and Maya Angelou to the future with Malala Yousafzai and Gloria Steinem. The women in my family especially have formed me into the person I am today, my mother and grandmother have always taught me the world was at my fingertips and to fight for what I believe in, especially because I am a strong woman. 

What are some of your goals for the future? 

To have a successful law firm where one day I will be able to take a step back and let my partners and associates do the work. I also would love to be a part of the Innocence Project in some way in the future, that has always been a big inspiration behind my career.