Whoever said, “Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life,” clearly never had an actual job. Perhaps a love for what you do makes your job more enjoyable, but for most people, it’s undeniably still work. I entered law school with the idea that I would eventually “work” in corporate law. I can’t recall why I was drawn to corporate law, but I suspect it had something to do with a friend who made partner at a corporate firm and was shamelessly enjoying the fruits of her seven-figure salary. Long (and somewhat dramatic) story short: that path was not the one life intended for me. Instead, I traveled the opposite way down what I believe Robert Frost might refer to as “the road less traveled” and chose public interest law where I would later become an assistant public defender in Mecklenburg County. While there was certainly no seven-figure salary in my future as a public defender, that role made all the difference: it helped me realize what I was truly passionate about – helping others and telling their stories.

After eleven fulfilling years as a public defender, I began to ponder my next step, and it wasn’t long before I found myself saying goodbye to clients who were in a bind with the law and hello to clients who were in a bind at home. As a seasoned attorney, I was confident in my ability to quickly familiarize myself with the legal principles involved in family law. What surprised me, however, was how much my personal life experience would ultimately shape my competence as a family law attorney. I’ve worked hard for everything I’ve ever had in life which means I take neither my own hard work nor the hard work of others lightly. I am a child of divorce, and today I am also a wife and mother, so I understand first-hand the impacts of divorce on the family unit. I’ve also had the opportunity to work with many people struggling with addiction, mental health, and recovery and know how these issues impact the individual and the family.

What I’ve learned is that knowledge of the law is only part of the equation – and while knowing the law and having integrity may make me a credible attorney, it is my lived experiences that make me a relatable, empathetic, and capable attorney and advocate. To be truly effective as an attorney one must be able to relate to their clients on a level that enables them to tell each client’s story as if it were their own: with compassion, emotion, and attention to the important details. By taking the time to not just listen, but relate to my clients and their needs, I can fiercely advocate for them and creatively solve problems in an effective and personal manner.