Leah Martin '02

How did you first get into the legal profession?

It all began with a John Grisham book. After reading The Firm in the 7th grade, I knew I was heading down the legal path. Though life is certainly not a John Grisham book, I really enjoy the ability to practice in a number of different areas, and the benefits a legal degree provides in business as well as law.

What do you wish you would have learned at the beginning of your career?

Don’t try to do it all. “Just do it” is a really good tagline for Nike but it really doesn’t make good business sense. I tried that approach in opening my own firm. I jumped in with neither business experience nor a plan; as a result, I really struggled in my early years. I learned the hard way that you should only go with “just do it” after you’ve formulated a plan and then do it in a logical and systematic order. 

The same is true with regard to practice areas. If you try to do everything it is difficult to be an expert in anything. It is better to find your passion and focus in that area.

What do you like most about your work?

I really enjoy being able to work with a variety of business owners in different industries. I particularly appreciate seeing small start-ups develop into successful enterprises. I like being able to work with these owners for years, guiding them through legal issues and challenges. While I have worked on many interesting clients on single projects, I really enjoy the relationships I form with my long-term business clients.