that's when she met legal assistant lessie hookfin. she was just driven, wanting to get that next-- i'll call it that next high. and law school was that. being a lawyer was that. and she achieved it. she passed the bar on her first shot. on her first shot. dennis murphy (voiceover): she eagerly lapped up the hard cases, the kind that made news-- accused killers, druggies, gang bangers. she seemed at ease in the spotlight, happily talking to reporters. [laughs] have a good one. dennis murphy (voiceover): chiquita was enjoying such success, she opened her own firm in a nice building a few blocks from the court's complex. lessie hookfin went with her. what areas did she start to stake out for herself? criminal. she wanted to do criminal so bad. dennis murphy (voiceover): prem burns watched her in action. chiquita was one to speak her mind and dress how she wanted, in conservative lady lawyer pantsuits one day and stilettos and spiky hair the next. she would walk into a courtroom, and she looked like she owned the place. you could hear her