2008 Most Influential Women Honoree: Jill Patterson

“I always wanted to be exactly what I am now,” said Patterson, first assistant prosecuting attorney for the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s office.

Her interest showed itself early: Patterson’s independent project in seventh grade focused on juvenile delinquency.

Patterson has been a supervising attorney in the prosecutor’s office since 1996 and focuses on child abuse, sexual assault and domestic violence cases.

“I hope I show leadership in terms of a desired societal response to child abuse and?domestic violence,” she says.

“I encourage people to stand up for victims and to get involved in the fight against typically secretive crimes.”

A native of New Jersey, Patterson landed in Missouri when she transferred to Washington University after her mother moved to St. Louis.

She earned her undergraduate degree in political science at Washington University and her law degree from University of Missouri School of Law in 1993.

Patterson came to Springfield as an assistant public defender handling felonies, misdemeanors and juvenile cases, which she did until 1995.

She then moved to the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office as assistant prosecuting attorney, where she began prosecuting sex offenses and child abuse cases.

In 1999, she assumed her current position, in which she supervises several attorneys and a paralegal.

Early in her career, Patterson repeatedly saw how children who are raised amid abuse often end up on the wrong side of the law. She decided to work in an area where she could prosecute people who create those circumstances for children – and perhaps help adults along the way.

That’s why Patterson was involved with creating Mothers Choosing Change, one of the drug-court tracks that focuses on pregnant women with drug issues who are in the criminal justice system.

“It’s very successful,” Patterson says. “If you’re going to devote limited resources to a population of people, pregnant women are a good choice.”

Her job is never boring, she said, and her work extends outside the office. “Law &Order” and “CSI” are required watching, particularly since the “CSI effect” — people believing just what they see on TV – is something Patterson must be aware of for her work.

“Because I select juries for a living, I have to know what they’re watching,” she says.

So far, Patterson hasn’t jumped at opportunities to do something else.

“I always say I’m going to practice law until I think of something better to do, and I haven’t thought of anything better to do.

“I still love it,” she says.

Name an influential woman, living or dead, you’d like to meet. Why?

Eleanor Roosevelt, because I have always thought of her as a strong and wise woman, who also endeared herself to many people.

What advice do you have for young women just getting started professionally?

Figure out what you have a passion for and put your energy and efforts into that work. Develop a strong work ethic. Look around you for role models in your field to watch and emulate. Learn as much as you can about your work so that you develop an expertise. Be kind to your secretaries and support staff!

As a young girl, what were your career aspirations?

I have the exact job I wanted to have since I was 12 years old. I wanted to work with children and be involved in the criminal justice system as a lawyer.

Tell us about your family.

My husband, Dan, is currently deployed as a Judge Advocate General officer with the Army in Kosovo. We have three children; my stepson is 11, and we have two daughters, 6 and 3 years old, and one very old and pampered mutt.

What celebrity have others compared you to, or do you identify with?

People tell me they think I look like Kate Walsh from “Grey’s Anatomy,” but I am not so sure.

Web Exclusive: What unusual music taste – for a Jersey girl – does Jill have?

Answer: She likes country music.[[In-content Ad]]