Biography by Sophia Dadds:
I’ve known I wanted to be a lawyer since I was eight years old when I discovered that there was a career in which arguing was not only accepted but encouraged. This may make me seem like a disagreeable person, but I am not. I just love being right. All the time. Growing up, I led debates with my family over bedtimes, meals, vacations, etc. One time I created a research-backed presentation about why my family needed a dog. Whether I was trying to not-so-subtly persuade my mom to satisfy my every whim or bringing up a new point in a class discussion, I loved making my point known— much to the chagrin of my exhausted peers. I’ve gotten a lot less annoying since my prepubescent days—- I save the debating for debate team and the courtroom.
Truthfully, the time my eyes were really opened to law was after watching Legally Blonde. It was then, at age 8, that I knew I was destined to be a lawyer. And I’ve followed through with that aspiration. Before Legally Blonde, I had never really seen women in the law field. I thought that one had to push away their femininity in order to be a lawyer. Unfortunately, it is still sometimes the case that very feminine women are not taken seriously. But, Elle Woods helped to show me that you can love fashion, dolls, the color pink, and hair dye and be an incredibly intelligent and successful attorney.
While I knew that I was going to be a lawyer, I had no idea what type of law I wanted to pursue. The first time someone asked me what kind of lawyer I wanted to be, I was taken aback. There are different kinds of lawyers? The only lawyers I really saw represented in the media were criminal defense attorneys and prosecutors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I finally had time to delve into the different fields of law. I knew I wanted to be a lawyer who worked very closely with clients and really helped change lives.
In my research, I came across family law and it really intrigued me. It met my desire for close relationships and the ability to really impact people’s lives. Family lawyers tend to help others during times of distress and vulnerability and have the gift of providing comfort and reassurance and later watching their clients thrive.
My personal connection to family law also motivated my interest in the field. My parents were engaged but never married; they split before I was born. My mom hired a family lawyer to ensure she was granted full custody and was given appropriate child support. Because of her family lawyer, I am able to have a happy life with my mother and my single mom was able to afford to take care of me. I am so grateful to live the life our lawyer provided me. I would love to have a similar impact on a child in the future.
Realizing I loved family law opened up opportunities for me in mediation. A family friend introduced me to mediation and I was able to learn how critical it is to the law process. I interned at Anne Arundel Conflict Resolution center and observed family mediation sessions and talked to mediators about the mediation process. Mediation is so important, as it offers an unbiased opportunity to discuss and get to the root of issues that cause hostility in relationships. Typically, people have more they can find a middle ground on than not.
Skills of mediation can be integrated into every aspect of life. I use what I learned in my meditation observations to be a better leader in my extracurriculars. Open and honest communication can change lives. It is so rewarding being a mediator and helping people to feel heard and facilitating a conversation that can lead to understanding and compromise.
I am so excited to grow my understanding of family law and meditation with Jacobson Family Law. This is a step toward my bigger future.
