You Are A Lawyer: Take Risks and Change Careers in Law

Sam Mollaei decided to attend law school because everyone around him was interested in law school. After realizing that traditional law firms did not fit him well, Sam Mollaei began studying YouTube, business books, and mentorship to create a business for himself. After discovering how multi-billion dollar companies earn money from sales funnels, Sam Mollaei decided to use the sales funnel process...

Michelle Thompson worked for not-for-profit organizations until the stress of her demanding career and poor coping mechanisms challenged her health. With the urging of her spouse, Michelle earned her Ph. D. and became an adjunct professor. Now, Michelle Thompson is the founder and career strategist for Resistant Vision, where Michelle teaches women to calm their nervous system, clarify what they w...

When a tweet about withdrawing from the bar exam went viral, Kate Dwyer embraced the attention and interacted with hundreds of people about how to trust yourself and your journey. After working as a paralegal in a plaintiff’s attorney and immigration office, Kate decided to attend law school and develop more practical legal skills. So when Kate Dwyer failed the bar exam, then withdrew from the nex...

Morgyn Jones moved to Cincinnati to spend time in the big city. However, Morgyn Jones didn’t know that her first legal career would connect her with a mentor and the inspiration needed to obtain an LLM in data privacy and intellectual property. After working in patent prosecution administration, now Morgyn Jones is a corporate paralegal for a biotech company, a role that was created for her unique...

Jon Tobin is the founder and partner of Counsel for Creators, a law firm that protects the designs, creations, and intellectual property of creators. Jon left college to participate in the Dot Com boom, Jon Tobin used his design and software background to work in the tech industry. After gaining a thorough understanding of IPOs, business formation, and observing entrepreneurs, Jon Tobin decided to...

Krista Contino Saumby became a patent prosecutor and worked at the big law firms that intimidate everyone. This happened after Krista studied mathematics, became an electrical engineer, and took multiple bar exams.  After realizing that stress from her career was negatively affecting her health, Krista Contino Saumby worked with a career coach to determine what she wanted from her career. Now, Kri...

Terrance Pryor has an atypical legal career because he was an atypical law student. Terrance attended law school for five years as a part-time student, transferred from one school to Georgia State Law, and started working in two new legal fields before they were cool.  Terrance is a former Division I football player and leaves a great impression on everyone he meets, which is seen in how he builds...

Rebecca Larson became the owner and founder of Your Home Legal, a real estate law firm even though she had no interest in property law or real estate while in law school.  After a colleague asked Rebecca to cover their real estate closings for a few months, Rebecca Larson realized that she REALLY enjoyed real estate law and all of its nuances. Now, Rebecca Larson works on risk mitigation and manag...

Kyla Denanyoh is bursting with energy and excitement because of THREE huge things.  First, there is a You Are A Lawyer newsletter that is released on the opposite weeks of the podcast episodes and you need to join it and find out what is happening behind the scenes with the podcast.  Second, if you are interested in weekly You Are A Lawyer podcast episodes, let Kyla know all about it. Email kyla@y...

Christon Halkiotis always knew that she wanted to become a prosecutor. After interning with the District Attorney’s office as a 3L, Christon Halkiotis excelled as a prosecutor where she participated in more than 300 bench trials and 35 jury trials. In 2019, Christon Halkiotis opened her law firm where she serves criminal defense clients.  Listen to learn: How to be a zealous advocate for your clie...

Jaya Saxena practiced law for a few years before working in law school administration and back to a law firm, but focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. Now, as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The Brattle Group, Jaya Saxena creates strategy and acts as an internal consultant to ensure that DEI is represented in all aspects of the company. Listen to learn: How D...

James Mattox III intended to become a parole officer before a college professor encouraged him to impact more lives by becoming a lawyer. James Mattox III started law school without knowing anyone who looked like him or came from a small town. Now, James Mattox III is co-founder of the law firm that specializes in personal injury, bankruptcy, and Texas family law. Listen to learn: Advice for cofou...

Sharon Christie began teaching women lawyers to run successful businesses.  After realizing that she no longer loved being a partner in a law firm, Sharon Christie set up her own law firm where she worked on disability cases. Now, Sharon Christie created Bold Women Lawyers, where Sharon coaches and consults with female lawyers with solo or small practices. Listen to learn: How to create a social s...

Jolene Blackbourn ignored moot court, law review, and on-campus interviews; everything she could to avoid litigation. After a professor explained that Jolene had a knack for litigation work, Jolene Blackbourn found that she enjoyed the research and preparation needed for trial. Eventually being known as the “Trial Queen,” Jolene excelled when she worked in-house on corporate defense matters. Now,...

Devin Zito studied computer information before creating a company that wrote code for financial companies. After being encouraged by his wife to attend law school, Devin Zito studied as a part-time student in both the day and evening programs at Southern Law because Devin wanted to continue running his technology company. Now, Devin Zito is the Director of Information Services and Corporate Counse...

Justin Stivers is the founder and CEO of The Probate Law Firm. Once told that he could do anything with a law degree, Justin Stivers went to law school after a non-traditional path. After living in Honduras with the Peace Corps and considering a career as a scuba instructor, Justin Stivers found that being a lawyer was a great career for him.  Justin Stivers decided to use social media to teach ot...

Elisabeth Steele worked in the White House as a Special Assistant to Thurgood Marshall Jr. before attending law school. Then, Elisabeth Steele taught others through online undergraduate programs, where Elisabeth realized that a genuine connection could be built virtually.  Elisabeth Steele recently left the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she was the Director of Admissions. Now, Elisabeth Ste...

Maya Markovich is the Chief Growth Officer at Nextlaw Labs, a legal innovation organization founded by Denton’s. After working as a change management consultant, Maya Markovich took her interest in technology to propel legal tech innovations. If you are seeking mentorship or want to discuss law and tech, contact Maya Markovich at maya.markovich@gmail.com. Listen to learn: How legal innovation will...

Caroline Vickers became a coach for repeat and first-time bar exam takers.  After Caroline Vickers started coaching her friends who were taking the bar exam, Caroline Vickers noticed that multiple people had the same issues with their mindset.  After realizing that the confidence and mindset of repeat bar exam takers was lacking, Caroline Vickers created Bar Prep Champs and incorporated group coac...

Ali Awad became a social media mogul and edutains (educates and entertainer) others about personal injury law and how to excel with social media.  After realizing that Ali Awad was a natural salesman, Ali Awad found that his authenticity and natural acting skills attracted millions of social media followers.  Now, Ali Awad teaches others to build a brand online and Ali Awad manages a multi-million...

LISTEN TO LEARN Why law school fails at teaching you to be a lawyer The importance of mentorship when choosing a law school Food deserts and how to advance racial equity in food justice What is a food consultant? ‍ WHAT WE DISCUSS How to create a dairy-free holiday meal Why a lawyer would create a YouTube channel Podcasts about food and agriculture, like the podcast Black in the Garden Why law sch...

David Orozco has not sat for a bar exam, but David has not removed the option of ever taking a bar exam.  David creates businesses and teaches with this same anticipation or expectation to be surprised by what will happen next.  As an undergraduate student at New York University, David Orozco took a Civil Liberties elective in his final year of school.  This course piqued David’s interest in becom...

If you ever daydreamed about leaving your job, grabbing your passport, and moving to a new country, Michelle Words believes you should and will help you prepare to do so.  Michelle Words lives an organic life; she believes that you make plans, plans change, you work with those new plans and see what happens.  Michelle Words is an avid international traveler, business law professor, expat, and podc...

If you think having a law degree limits your creativity you haven’t met Katherin Hervey.  Katherin has worked as a magazine editor, a public defender, a film enthusiast, a holistic artist, a director, and filmmaker.   After studying cross-cultural communications, which was a self-designed major at the University of Washington, Katherin found that curating her own degree was her way of diving into...

What do you want people to say about you at your retirement party?  Frank Ramos wears multiple hats, but all of his activities and hobbies are centered around ensuring that his life is meaningful.  Licensed in Florida, Frank Ramos is a litigation partner and has worked with the same law firm for 23 years.  However, Frank has diverse interests which range from being an author to mentoring lawyers t...