If you ask Carmen Chambers to self-identify, she’ll tell you she’s queer. Why? Because she doesn’t consider herself straight or gay. Instead she prefers the all-encompassing term, which she discusses with Merle Vaughn in this episode of B.S.: Beyond Stereotypes. Carmen also talks about what it’s like to be invisibly diverse, the assumptions people make about her based on her appearance, and the privilege she has as a result.
Carmen Chambers is an associate in Maynard Cooper's Litigation section and a member of the Product Liability and Environmental practice groups.
Carmen has a diverse practice in the area of general commercial litigation with particular focus and experience in environmental and product liability defense litigation. Carmen's recent work includes representing chemical, automotive, and specialty-metal manufacturers, utility service providers, and heavy equipment rental companies throughout the United States. While she concentrates her practice on defense work, Carmen has also had the opportunity to litigate complex disputes for plaintiffs.
Carmen has trial and courtroom experience. In June 2020, she served as second-chair in the first civil jury trial in Alabama since the COVID-19 shutdown, and one of the first federal civil jury trials in the United States since the shutdown.
In addition, Carmen is dedicated to providing pro bono legal services. She serves as Vice-Chair of the Firm’s LGBTQ pro bono clinic and plays a key role in the direct provision of services, as well as in outreach and training for the project.
Carmen received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where she served as the Senior Development Editor of the Georgetown Law Journal. During her last year at Georgetown, she worked full-time as a student attorney in the Georgetown Law Juvenile Justice Clinic, representing youth charged with delinquency. She received the Dean's Certificate for her outstanding service to the Georgetown Law Community, along with a Certificate of Distinction for her contributions to the LGBTQ community. Prior to Georgetown, she worked as a paralegal in the New York office of an international law firm. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Yale University, where she competed in spoken word and ballroom dance - two of her passions outside of the legal profession.
