This week’s 5Q features Sylvia Osiecka, an associate attorney at Fairfield and Woods, P.C., where her practice area is Litigation/Construction Defect. She keeps the coffee and tea brewing during trial prep and prefers paper briefs and trial work over digital briefs and research and writing. Whether she’s an early-bird or night-owl lawyer really depends on the day of the week.
Question 1: What do you like most about Colorado?
Osiecka: I love Colorado for its incredible natural beauty and variety of landscapes. From towering mountains to serene rivers, it’s a place where you can always find a new adventure or a quiet spot to connect with nature.
Q2: What’s your favorite outdoor activity in Colorado?
Osiecka: Fishing and hiking are my go-tos; they are relaxing, rewarding and a great way to unplug.
Q3: Why did you become a lawyer/attorney?
Osiecka: I became a lawyer because I’ve always been fascinated by history, especially how legal systems around the world have shaped societies. Law allows me to engage directly with that history — understanding how rules evolve and justice is applied — and to help shape outcomes in the present. It’s a way to turn my passion for the story of law into real-world impact.
Q4: What’s the best career advice that you’ve received?
Osiecka: My criminal law professor used to tell us, “Just do your best, and no matter what happens on your final exam or in the courtroom, remember, your mom will always love you.”
Q5: What does “justice” mean to you?
Osiecka: To me, justice means that even the poor, the marginalized or the less powerful can prevail if they are in the right. It’s the idea that fairness and the rule of law don’t depend on wealth, status or influence. Everyone has a chance to have their voice heard, their rights protected and their claims fairly considered. Justice is ensuring truth and fairness matter more than power.
Osiecka, who has been in her current position for more than a year, attended Penn State Law.
Law Week Colorado invites Colorado lawyers, paralegals, judges, law professors and other legal professionals to share their insights and experiences with the community with our weekly 5Q Questionnaire.
Responses may be edited for clarity and length and will be published in the order received. Your patience is appreciated. If you have questions, email [email protected].