A veteran in the Ulster County District Attorney's office, Katherine Van Loan, has worked there for over two decades.

"When I started here I was the only woman who did trial work," said Van Loan. "In criminal law, we have never had a woman district attorney, we've never had a woman public defender as the public defender, and we've never had a woman county court judge."

But that's changing; with the election of Dave Clegg as the district attorney, she's been appointed as chief assistant DA and she's the first woman to ever serve this position in Ulster County. 

"It's exciting because criminal law, and I can't speak to other areas of law, but criminal law in Ulster County has been a little slower to see women participate in all areas both on the prosecutor side and the defense side," Van Loan said.

Van Loan says she hopes to show other women anything in possible, even when you're the minority. 

"It's nice to show that as difficult as it is, it is possible to balance that with the pressures and joys of motherhood — I have three children and it is challenging at times to make it all work but it also is rewarding and I'm glad that I can show that it can be done," Van Loan said.