Many lawyers begin their careers as law firm associates straight out of law school and eventually make partner around eight years later. Law schools sometimes make you feel as if that’s the only path. I, on the other hand, became a shareholder (partner equivalent) at Greenberg Traurig 18 years after finishing law school and after an exciting, albeit non-traditional, journey which shaped the lawyer I am today.
Bitten by the political bug early in life, I dreamt of working in Washington D.C. After spending a semester in college at American University, then a summer interning for a US Senator from Mississippi, I was hooked. I returned to my alma mater, Ole Miss, for my senior year and remained there for my law degree. I found I enjoyed and excelled at litigation. My partner and I won the moot court trial competition in my third year and subsequently competed on the national moot court trial team. However, the lure of The Hill remained strong. The day after taking the bar exam, I packed up my car and drove to D.C.
After pounding the Capitol pavement, I landed a job as assistant foreign policy advisor to then Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS). That same day, I received an offer from a Northern Virginia law firm where I had also interviewed. I knew I could join a firm later but I’d come to D.C. to work on the Hill. My two and a half years in Senator Lott’s office was filled with incredibly rewarding experiences, including international travel. Then 9/11 happened and D.C. was a different place.
In 2012, I moved back to Mississippi and worked with my Dad, a
long-time litigator who’d transitioned into real estate law. I quickly realised real estate law wasn’t my calling, but it was an excellent transition. I then joined a well-established firm in Oxford, Mississippi, where I worked as a litigation associate. There, I got a taste for litigation and enjoyed the excitement of trying cases and arguing motions.
After five years at the firm, my husband and I decided we wanted to live in a bigger city (I still love you, Oxford) and relocated to his hometown of Austin, Texas. I still had the political bug, and thought lobbying might someday be a good fit for my talents and interests. Everyone told me, if I ever wanted to lobby, I’d need State Capitol experience in Austin, so that is where I set my sights. I accepted a general counsel and policy analyst job with a state senator and jumped right into Texas politics. Again, I had opportunities with other more ‘lawyerly’ outfits, but I was ready for political life again. I strongly believe you should trust your instincts, and dive in when the opportunity feels right.
I enjoyed my time in the Texas Capitol, and remained there until my boss retired from office. It was the perfect platform for my entrance into Texas politics and I wanted a bit more. Not quite ready to return to law firm life, I accepted a position at the Texas Department of Agriculture as assistant commissioner for marketing. Both agriculture and marketing were outside of my proverbial career box, but I was so fascinated by the job – marketing Texas wine, beef, shrimp, produce, etc. – I decided to dive in. I gained valuable insight into how state agencies work, which has become hugely important in my current role as a lobbyist and government law and policy attorney.
After two years at the department of agriculture, I was feeling the itch again to pursue law and lobbying when an opportunity presented itself. That brought me to Greenberg Traurig. During my time in Texas government, I was fortunate enough to work with two prominent shareholders in the firm’s government law and policy practice – Tom Bond and Demetrius McDaniel. I knew they were people I’d like to work with, both highly regarded in Texas law and politics. Six years ago, I joined the Austin office and, over time, worked my way up to shareholder.
I love my job and doubt I would have found it — or excelled at it — were it not for my diverse career path. My knowledge of the federal and Texas legislative process, Texas state agency work, and litigation have all allowed me to build a successful practice as a lobbyist and litigator in Texas. In short, you don’t have to follow the traditional path to be successful in ‘Big Law’. Follow your passions, investigate other paths and build your own brand and practice. Give it time and it will come.