Leap of faith and desire send nurse
Brenda Lawson, ’00,
down path to family law career She’s been a nurse for more than 20 years, but these days, Brenda Lawson is more likely to be in a courtroom than in an emergency room, and no one is more surprised by that than she is. BY EILEEN FORD, JD
About her decision to go to law school, Lawson now says that it was a “leap of faith.” She was a single mother with three young children at home and a full-time job. She knew it would be a hardship for her children, but now she can focus on the benefits. They learned quickly to do a lot for themselves, but the less tangible benefits were greater. “Their regard for me grew,” she says proudly, “not just because I earned the degree, but because they saw how hard I worked to achieve that.” Lawson is a member of the first evening class to begin study at the East Lansing campus and describes that experience as “an adventure.” She appreciated being with other students who were sharing similar challenges of balancing work, family and law school. “We started together at Eppley [Center at MSU’s business college] and watched our new school being built across the street. It was an exciting time.” It was during her last term in law school that she began clerking at the Lansing firm of Sinas, Dramis, Brake, Boughton and McIntyre. She didn’t view her internship as a foot in the door of private practice, only as an opportunity to get a glimpse of that world and to learn more. The majority of the firm’s practice involves personal injury cases, but Lawson worked mostly with the attorney who handled the firm’s family law cases. “I really enjoyed it,” Lawson says, a hint of surprise still in her voice. “I began working with Bernie Finn just at the time he had started to think about expanding his family law practice. The timing was perfect.” She credits the law firm’s commitment to her in hiring her right out of law school. “The learning curve that first year or two is huge,” she says, “and they were willing to give me that opportunity.” Lawson now has been with the firm for three years, and her entire practice is family law. What about nursing? “I’ll always be a nurse,” Lawson declares with certainty and no small trace of pride. “I still renew my license and earn the necessary continuing education credits. I’ll never let go of that.” Reflecting on her new career, she acknowledges that there are some similarities. “I’m still helping families at a time of need. The effect that a divorce has on a family is not unlike an illness. People need someone to turn to, someone to help them negotiate their way through that crisis.” A similarity does seem to emerge in all of the work Lawson does. Whether it is nursing, advocating for better health care, representing her clients, volunteering at the Access to Justice clinic, or participating in the MSU-DCL chapter of the American Inns of Court, Lawson seems motivated by her desire to help people and to raise the standards of her profession. It also becomes evident that, in order to succeed at her many endeavors, Brenda Lawson must be a woman who knows her priorities. That point is proven when she is asked at the close of the interview if there is anything specific she wants included in this article. She answers without hesitation, “Mention my kids: Nicholas, Jonathan and Colette.” |
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