When I Was a New Lawyer

What inspired you to become a lawyer? And what did you do prior to becoming a lawyer?

I was a special education teacher in a high school in Gallatin, Tennessee, with a master’s degree and became very interested in the legal profession because all of my students had some sort of legal issue they or their families were dealing with. I learned of these issues through the ombudsman, who met with me regularly to review my IEPs and serve as a resource for the students, who were ages 13-22. I decided to pursue a law degree and went to Vanderbilt University Law School as a result of my experiences with these special needs students and their significant legal needs.

How did you become involved with the ABA?

The President of the Tennessee Bar Association YLD, Pamela Reeves, asked me on short notice if I would fill in for the District Rep at the ABA/YLD Mid-Winter Meeting in Los Angeles and further told me that if I agreed to go, I would need to prepare to debate a Resolution in the YLD Assembly. I agreed to go, having never been to an ABA Meeting or ABA/YLD Meeting before, having no idea what a District Rep was or did (ours represented Tennessee and Missouri at that time), and while there, I was fortunate to meet and receive excellent advice on what to expect in the Assembly from then- strangers Judy Perry Martinez, Pamela Roberts and other now dear friends who were YLD-ers at the time (in the mid-80s). I was hooked.

What is the benefit of a new lawyer becoming active with the ABA?

I am a career-long member of the ABA, but it took someone reaching out to me to get me involved in the ABA, which luckily was early and through the YLD. The connections, friendships, professional growth, personal growth, referrals, life and career opportunities, and actual fun that I have experienced have all served me well for decades, and it all started as a young/new lawyer with the ABA over 40 years ago.

What early career practices led to your success?

When I started practicing law in 1983, partners took associates everywhere with them, and it was a great opportunity to learn by observing and by doing. That early learning experience really served me well, and I have continued to build off that experience in my professional development and with new lawyers I work with. Although it is impossible now to take others everywhere with you in real-time or even virtually due to time demands, making an effort to think about when that would benefit the client or the team and implementing a plan to make it occur is important to long-term success and also very valuable to the client.

What is your advice for dealing with difficult partners, colleagues, or counsel?

Ken Turek, a great lawyer who regularly speaks to the TIPS Leadership Academy Class, has excellent advice about this topic, which I have tried to follow—listen carefully, recognize there may be something else going on, learn to control your response to help defuse a toxic situation and ultimately if the problem really is them and they are not going anywhere, consider another work setting as life is too short.

What is your advice for a new lawyer seeking to acquire, retain, and nurture client relationships?

First and foremost, be a good lawyer who does good work and maintains a good reputation. Treat the client with respect and check in with them proactively—do not wait for them to check up on where you are on their project. Be candid in your advice, your timetables, your capacity, and your budgeting/billing, and be willing to refer them to other outside resources as needed—they will appreciate that good judgment.

What challenges you the most?

Time demands.

What gives you the most satisfaction?

Personally, my family. Professionally, my firm and the important work we are privileged to do as lawyers for our clients and for our communities. I also really enjoy being with friends and colleagues I have met over the years in TIPS.

What are your future ambitions for the next five to 10 years?

I am happy to be here in the present, but I hope to inspire new lawyers, continue to serve the profession, and have fun along the way.