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Like many young people in the turbulent 1960s, Jayne Williams wanted to do something to change society.
Little did the newly married Williams expect her first job out of law school in 1974 would lead her in a different direction to reach that goal.
Nor did she expect that first job would last 26 years, 13 as Oakland city attorney; and lead to a state precedent, recognition and honors - including the California State Bar honoring her in 2001 as public lawyer of the year - and a second career in public law, but this time in private practice.
"I wanted to be a legal aid lawyer," she said of her plan 28 years ago. "But I got a job."
What fate, influenced by the priorities of the day, had in mind was a low-level job in the seemingly stultifying atmosphere of municipal law.
"There was no affirmative action in the (Oakland) city attorney's office," Williams recalls. "I got hired the same day I called."
That call launched a career that has seen Williams become an expert on housing and redevelopment issues and serve a twoyear stint as the city's personnel director.
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