What I Learned Leading A Law Firm Before Starting Liberty Legacy Law Group

Not every career starts with a grand plan.

Mine certainly didn’t.

If you had asked me in law school what kind of attorney I’d become, I would have given you a confident answer: personal injury. After all, I’d spent the better part of a decade in that field – working as a legal assistant, paralegal, and office manager in multiple firms throughout college and law school. I knew personal injury inside and out. It felt like the natural path.

But as graduation approached, something didn’t feel right. I couldn’t picture my future in that space. The work was intense, often reactive, and while I respected it, it didn’t fulfill me. I wasn’t looking for a job – I was searching for meaning.

And then, by what I can only call dumb luck, I stumbled into something that would change my life.

From Unqualified to Unshakable

I found a job posting for a position at a firm that specialized in estates and trusts. It was a realm of law I knew nothing about other than the one class I had taken in law school. I didn’t meet the qualifications. I hadn’t even passed the Maryland Bar yet.

Still, I applied. I figured, what do I have to lose?

Amazingly, I got the job.

I started as a Law Clerk, green and uncertain. I was entering a world of estate planning, fiduciary duties, family dynamics, and intricate systems – all of which I’d never seen before.

But something clicked.

It wasn’t just about drafting documents or learning the Maryland Trusts and Estates Code. It was about helping people plan for the future in deeply personal, often emotional ways. It was about understanding the lives behind the legalese. I found myself not only learning a new area of law, but reconnecting with why I wanted to become an attorney in the first place: to guide people through important life decisions with clarity, confidence, and care.

Climbing the Ladder (And Learning on Every Rung)

I didn’t stay a Law Clerk for long. I advanced to Associate Attorney. Then Partner. Then Managing Partner.

Each step up came with more responsibility – not just to clients, but to the people working beside me. I oversaw attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants. I developed operations, built systems, refined training, mentored staff, and made tough calls.

And through it all, I listened.
To the team.
To the clients.
To myself.

What I learned during that time would shape how I practice law, how I run a business, and how I connect with people – not as “clients” or “colleagues,” but as human beings with stories, struggles, and dreams.

The Real Lessons: Beyond the Legal Work

Here are just a few of the lessons I carry with me from those years in leadership:

1. People Remember How You Made Them Feel, Not What You Filed

No client has ever emailed me years later to thank me for paragraph 3 of their trust. But I have received heartfelt messages from people who remember the way I treated them – how I returned their call during a hard moment, how I reassured them when they were scared, how I explained things in a way that made them feel smart, not small.

In law, feelings matter. Kindness matters. People matter.

2. Legacy Isn’t Always About Money; It’s About Meaning

Sure, I’ve worked with multimillion-dollar estates and high-value assets. But I’ve also seen clients cry over who will inherit the family cookbook or their parents’ Christmas ornaments. The truth is, legacy isn’t just financial – it’s emotional. It’s the stories, values, and memories we pass on. Understanding that changed how I advise every single client.

3. The Best Plans Are Built Through Listening, Not Templates

I used to think estate planning began with a checklist. Now I know it starts with a conversation.

The most effective, tailored, protective plans are born from listening deeply – learning what keeps clients up at night, what drives them, what they truly want for the people they love. Templates don’t catch nuance. Listening does.

4. The Best Lawyers Lead With Empathy, Not Ego

There’s a common misconception that great lawyers are the loudest in the room. But the best ones I’ve known – and strive to emulate – lead with empathy.

They pause before speaking. They ask thoughtful questions. They stay curious, not condescending. Clients don’t need to be impressed; they need to be understood. Ego can cloud judgment. Empathy builds trust.

5. Small Mistakes Handled Well Build Deeper Trust

Mistakes happen – to everyone. A date gets mistyped. A call gets missed. But I learned early on that what happens after a mistake matters more than the mistake itself.

When you acknowledge the error, apologize sincerely, and fix it with urgency and transparency, something amazing happens: clients trust you more. Not because you’re perfect – but because you’re human, accountable, and invested in their peace of mind.

6. Planning for Death Is Really Planning for Love

This lesson surprised me the most.

At first glance, estate planning is about death. But it’s not – it’s about love. People don’t create wills and trusts because they’re afraid of dying. They do it because they care deeply about the people they’ll leave behind.

They want to prevent conflict. Protect children. Preserve memories. Planning is the final love letter they leave to their families. That realization changed everything for me.

7. The Best Leadership Is Rooted in Service, Not Status

Being a leader isn’t about a title. It was about setting the tone. Showing up early. Taking responsibility. Being a steady force during chaos. Empowering others to thrive.

I didn’t lead to be seen. I led to serve.

The attorneys, paralegals, assistants, and clients all relied on consistency, humility, and presence. Leadership isn’t a spotlight – it’s a foundation.

Building Liberty Legacy Law Group With Purpose

After all those years in personal injury, and then estate planning and law firm leadership, I knew it was time to build something of my own.

Not because I wanted control – but because I wanted alignment.

I wanted to create a firm that reflected my own voice, vision, and the deep-rooted values that have always guided how I serve people – integrity, patience, and genuine respect.

That dream became Liberty Legacy Law Group.

I built it with Kaitlyn – my best friend of over 30 years. Our skill sets complement each other beautifully: she brings bold vision, sharp legal expertise, and strong entrepreneurial instinct; I bring structure, systems, and a deep understanding of the law. And together, we both bring heart.

We created a law firm rooted in real values. A place where our clients feel seen, where our team feels supported, and where legacy is about more than law – it’s about life.

What I Carry With Me

Every time I meet a new client or mentor a new colleague, I bring these lessons with me:

• That empathy makes stronger lawyers.
• That trust is built, not bought.
• That every legacy is unique and worth protecting.
• That the best legal work starts with listening.

I am proud of where I came from. Grateful for the long nights, the tough calls, the growth that leadership demands.

But I’m even more proud of what Liberty Legacy Law Group has become – and what we’re building every day with our clients, our team, and our community.

If you’re looking for a law firm that sees you as more than a file number, I hope you’ll reach out. Because what we’re building here isn’t just a firm. It’s a legacy – yours and ours, together.