BY DR. BARBARA J. MCLEAN-SMITH
ORLANDO – Orlando is home to many “unsung” heroines who are making a difference to numerous people in all walks of life. Natasha E. Lias is one of the many women who is on a mission to make an impact on the lives of others. Born and raised in Apopka and, again, a resident of Orlando, FL, after living and working in South Florida. Ms. Lias is a practicing attorney with a vision that exemplifies wisdom beyond her years.
Natasha is the only daughter of John and Grace Lias. Mr. Lias is a retired mechanical engineer from Northrop Grumman, Apopka, FL where he worked with lasers and electronics for the U.S. Military. Mrs. Lias is a retired educator from the Orange County Public Schools system, where she served in several capacity’s including that of an elementary school principal. Natasha credits her parents with who she has become and is becoming. Natasha attended public primary, K-12, and post-secondary schools. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida and a Juris Doctor Degree from Florida A&M University College of Law, Orlando, FL.
Admitted to The Florida Bar in September 2013, and practicing for the past nine (9) years, Natasha will accomplish a significant milestone later this year; she speaks of her impending 10th year as a practicing attorney as “big deal”. While in Southwest Florida, Natasha served as a senior attorney for the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). While there, she served as an advocate for abused abandoned, and neglected children, many of whom were placed in the “Foster Care System”. Her passion for advocacy, and empathy for children led her to continue this work as a volunteer “Guardian Ad Litem” after her departure from DCF.
Since relocating back to Orlando in 2018, Natasha has continued to fulfill her advocacy role; as she has done for the “past 4-5 years”. She desires to be and sees herself as a “constant for children here in Orange County”. She has worked with “children ages 1-4 or 5”, as well as their teenaged siblings in the foster care system, who are encouraged to begin preparing for the realities and responsibilities of adulthood when they turn 16 years of age. At age 18, children in foster care are considered “aged out”. Natasha speaks of rewarding as well as disappointing outcomes for the children she has worked with since she began her advocacy work.
Currently, Natasha is employed as a civil defense attorney at a well-respected firm in Maitland, Florida, where she is an Associate on the Professional Liability Team. In this role, Natasha serves as an “attorney for attorneys” who often find themselves accused of misconduct by a disgruntled former client, or perhaps facing the consequences of a legitimate mistake they may have made in practice. In either situation, Natasha believes, attorneys, themselves, deserve adequate and competent legal representation. Natasha and her “Team” carry a caseload of 100 -120 cases at any given time. Each attorney, including Natasha, is personally responsible for 20 to 25 or more cases, and often devote more than 40 hours per week to their practice.
Natasha is a member in several organizations. She is a proud member of the Delta Omicron Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA), Orlando, Florida, where she has served as the Social Action Chairman for the past two years. This leadership role is particularly significant to her, as she is “following in her mother’s footsteps who held this position before her.” Natasha is also an elected board member of the “Petals of Hope Foundation,” the charitable arm of the Delta Omicron Omega Chapter. In that role, she is “accountable for the use and management of funds that flow into the Foundation.” As committee chairperson of the Paul C. Perkins Bar Association, Natasha has oversight of the Public Relations and Graphic Design, which she has come to really enjoy. In Natasha’s history making alliances, included is, The League of Women Voters of Orange County.
In all that Natasha does she finds time to enjoy her family; her parents are two of her best friends. Her mother plays the role of her “friend and confidante.” She continues to appreciate the artsy side of herself as she continues to play the piano and sings. Music is soothing to her soul. Concerts, plays and movies bring her relaxation and comfort.
Natasha is a member of the New Covenant Baptist Church of Orlando and has been most of her life. During her early years, she was known to be a soloist in the children’s choir. Natasha is quick to say, “what keeps me whole is Proverbs 16:9 “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” (English Standard Version Bible (ESV)).
Continue to look for the accomplishments of this young woman who is making history that will be long remembered. She is a on her way to bigger and greater success.
