GETTING TO KNOW

I became a lawyer because... I wanted to improve the lives of others who find themselves unable to do it alone. I remember my mother encouraging me to be a lawyer when I was younger, because I would argue with a signpost and I would never be satisfied until I knew the answer to my favorite question, "Why?" As I got older, I realized that I truly wanted to be an attorney when I did some work at an abused women's shelter as a teenager and met women who had been abused, were facing the end of their relationships, needed financial help with their children, and had nowhere to go. It was then that I recognized, truly, the need that our world has for people who are familiar with the law and can use that knowledge to help people who would truly suffer without help. It's very humbling to know that you have the training that could make such an impact on another human being's life.

What I like most about the law is... the fact that it is ever-changing and always subject to interpretation, depending on your perspective. It provides order to society in what would otherwise be a very chaotic world.

When you need an attorney... you want and need for that person to be dependable, hardworking, and to diligently and ethically advocate for you. You need someone who is on your side.

My friends describe me as... kind, caring, friendly, and outgoing . . . a stereotypical Sagittarius.

A job I could not do is... one that would require so much of my time that I would miss out on the opportunity I have been gien to raise my daughter to grow into a beautiful, caring young woman.

My most rewarding case is... impossible to choose, and may be yet to be determined . . . I hope that I can look back on my life and find that each one was rewarding in its own way. I have been involved in cases that created new law, both as a judicial law clerk, and as an attorney, and that is very exciting--to know that you have been a part of the creation of new legal principles that might impact so many lives.

I joined The Brad Hendricks Law Firm because... I know the people who work for the firm--the attorneys, the investigators, and all the other staff, and I have seen the way they work together as a team to provide the absolute best service they possibly can. I have seen the dedication they have to the firm's clients, and I wanted to be a part of that. It is something of which I can be proud, I think--that knowledge that comes with being part of something positive.

What makes The Brad Hendricks Law Firm different from other lawyers? The lawyers at The Brad Hendricks Law Firm respect our clients and each other as colleagues and members of an organization that share a common goal to best represent their clients' interests at all times. They come to the office prepared to dedicate everything humanly possibly to obtain a positive result for the client.

Someone I really admire is... unfortunately no longer living, but her name was Doris Wells. She was my eighth grade English teacher and she is the first person in my life who not only told me that I should be a lawyer, but then gave me the advice and encouragement that led me to believe that I could actually do just that, if I worked hard enough. She was my teacher, my mentor, and my friend. She came to my law school graduation and was later present at my wedding in 2007. She died later that year. I wish she could have met my daughter, that she could see my career become what she always envisioned, and that I could tell her that she was such a large part of all of it. She inspired me, and I will always miss her.

My favorite music is... much too diverse to label. I love pop music, country, classical, folk, disco, classic rock, adult contemporary, rap, and R&B. I probably listen to the local top 40 music channel more than anything, to stay on top of what music is being recorded.

What is your favorite word? Love. It's just a little word, but it probably has the largest scope in our lives. I am blessed to know that I have it in abundance in my marriage, my relationship with my friends and family, in my feelings about my hobbies and my career. It's presence in my life is keenly felt and truly treasured.

What is a word you hate? Failure. I loathe the word "failure." It means that, despite my absolute best efforts, I was not able to accomplish my goals.

If I had to attempt another profession... I would try my hand in the technological field.

A sound or noise I love is... the sound of my baby girl laughing, and the creak of my front door when my husband comes home.

A sound or noise I hate is... breaking glass, raised voices, the cry my daughter makes when she is in pain and can't be soothed.

My favorite trivia fact is... that Rita Moreno has won an Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, Tony, Golden Globe, and BAFTA award . . . it was the topic of a trivia question once on the radio. I got it right, and my husband guessed Barbra Streisand. He has won on Jeopardy, so the fact that I was right and he was wrong, just that once, makes it my favorite piece of trivia by far.

My favorite quote is... "It is the spirit and not the form of law that keeps justice alive." -- Earl Warren, former-Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

My favorite poet is... Robert Frost.

My favorite books are... "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell, "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and "The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov.

My favorite movie is... "The Color Purple."

When not at work, I enjoy... spending time with my husband, our daughter, and our two dogs and two cats, at our home.