Current association: Appalachian School of Law
Past associations: Intern at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Law School: Appalachian School of Law
Undergraduate: Muskingum University
Children: n/a unless you count my four fur babies (3 huskies – Kodiak, Kenai, and Midnight; and a cat – Sayuri)
Current hometown: Bristol, Virginia
Favorite bar or restaurant in current home city? Olive Garden because a warm soup warms the soul every day and nothing can beat chicken and gnocchi soup, in my opinion!
EMLF Involvement: I attend the EMLF annual institute and fall symposium annually. However, I would love to get more involved.
Where did you grow up? Macedonia, Ohio
What is your area of practice? Natural Resources as well as Family Law and Health Law
How did you get involved in that area of law? Since beginning law school, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in environmental law. Nature and all of its resources have always been my guiding light and I want to fight to maintain its beauty and resources as long as possible. As Wangari Maathai said, “You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their own, that they must protect them.” The best way to protect the world around us including the waters, land, and animals is to use your voice and stand up to fight. This is why I chose to pursue a career in environmental law and natural resources.
You have been to a number of EMLF events. Has that involvement benefited you? If so, how? Yes, involvement in EMLF events has allowed me to build connections in the field as well as stay up to date on advancements and changes in the realm of natural resources.
Looking back, what two or three things have been most helpful to you in developing as a lawyer? One of the biggest things that has helped me become the lawyer I am today is realizing that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach. What works for one lawyer may not work for another lawyer. It is important to figure out what approach is best for you even if it is not exactly what your coworker or classmate is doing.
Second, the support I received from my professors, family, and friends helped me develop into the lawyer I am today as well as the person I am today. The people in my life pushed me outside of my comfort zone assuring me that I could accomplish whatever I set my mind to doing and always gave me the reassuring push I needed when I was struggling.
Third, I would say realizing everyone is still learning helped me develop into the lawyer I am today. Every lawyer, regardless of how many years they have been practicing, is going to need to continue researching and updating his/her bank of knowledge and that is okay.
Is there any advice you would give to new lawyers and law students who are about to become lawyers? Take advantage of the opportunities presented to you whether it is attending a conference, an internship opportunity, or participating in a moot court competition/mock trial competition. Law school is an opportunity to learn but it is also a time to step outside of your comfort zone and experience things you never would have imagined. If you had asked me in undergrad if I would willingly participate in a moot court competition where I had to stand in front of judges and speak for fifteen minutes, I would have ran and hid. But by participating in these competitions my 2L and 3L year, my confidence increased as well as my skills needed to continue a career in the legal profession.