María Alina Carralero graduated with a Law degree in 2015, having studied on a course for working people; however, her professional career did not begin in a law firm or a courtroom, but in a classroom. She was working as a secondary school teacher when she received the opportunity that would mark her destiny: a position as an Internal Control Specialist in the Provincial Directorate of Justice.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- Her first mentor, to whom she owes everything she knows, was Consuelo Rodríguez Valenciano, a lawyer with vast experience who was deputy director of the institution. From her, she learned the secrets of organization, planning, and internal operations. “She had many years of experience, and she connected me to all the subjects I had studied: civil law, notary law, criminal law.”

Other mentors also influenced her training, including Castillo, head of the Criminal Affairs Department, and Mailín, a specialist in property registration with a long career. “I learned something different from each of them, and that helped me grow in this demanding environment.”

Eleven years have passed since she started. Today, with four of them at the helm of the Organization and Control Department and of institutional communication, her journey is a testament to perseverance and dedication.

"They have been wonderful experiences. Leading is not easy, but the years in Justice have been a learning experience. I have learned a lot, and I am proud of what we have achieved."

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, I qualified as a civil registrar and served at the funeral home. It was a very difficult time, but also an opportunity to serve. I got involved in all the tasks that Justice gave me, because I understood that it was necessary.”

She has taken training courses as a cadre, and at the national level, she is part of the reserve in two areas, Communication and the Planning Department. “There have been many challenges, but each one has made me grow.”

The National Union of Jurists of Cuba in the province has been another space for development. "For eight years, I led the grassroots delegation, and today I am part of the Board of Directors. I have always tried to get involved in as many workshops and courses as possible, because I believe that constant improvement is essential.

"Through communication, I am trying to raise the profile of the Ministry of Justice here in Las Tunas, working together with specialists from each department and with my managers, with whom I have always had excellent communication."

“I don't plan to abandon this path,” she says. “I like my job, it's nice, and I always encourage young people who graduate from law school to come to this institution, because it's truly a challenge in which you learn about all subjects.”

Her story is that of someone who, without initially intending to, found not only a job but also her vocation at the Provincial Directorate of Justice.