Bailey Marshall

A lot of my success comes from the fact that I'm really stubborn. If I see something that I want and someone looks at me and says, well, that's too difficult, or you're not smart enough, or that's just gonna be really hard, why would you want that, it makes me want it more. I want to prove people wrong. And so, I just keep pushing myself down the road, even when something is hard, even when people tell me, no, you're just not smart enough for that. I just keep proving other people wrong, because I'm stubborn.

The thing that sticks with me is don't be afraid to pivot. Don't be afraid to change what you want, because sometimes different doors will open and you'll have to go down different avenues, and ultimately, you'll end up where you belong and where you fit best. It's sort of like when you have a puppy dog and you're eating a chocolate chip cookie, and your puppy dog is looking at you and begging, and it really wants that chocolate chip cookie. But you know that if you give the chocolate chip cookie to your dog, your dog could get very sick. So you're doing what's best for your dog, even though you can't explain it to your dog. And sometimes, you know, God, life, the universe, whatever you want to call it, is doing the exact same thing. Sometimes you really want that chocolate chip cookie, and the universe is withholding it from you, and you don't understand why. But ultimately, it's going to lead you in the right direction. And that stuck with me over the years.

Just be aware that there are going to be rooms that when you walk into them, you will be the only woman. And that most times, people will look at you like you're a paralegal. And it is very important to hold your head up high and to correct people when they ask you, you know, are you a paralegal? Are you a legal assistant? No, I'm an attorney. And to understand that that's going to surprise some people, it's happening less and less. But just to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, and to keep advocating for yourself.

Walking into rooms and being one of, if not the only female, or one of maybe two or three females in the room. And even then, being the only attorney that's a female in the room, and constantly being asked, like, oh, are you a paralegal for your boss, or are you a legal assistant? Are you a receptionist? No, no, I'm actually an attorney, and we have a case together, and I am the attorney on that case. And just having to explain again and again that I am an attorney, I have a degree from an accredited university. And even then, people are a little bit skeptical, because maybe they haven't dealt with many women attorneys, or they have this prejudiced view of women attorneys. And there are even some judges in the South that still make you wear pencil skirts and heels and pantyhose in their courtrooms. They won't allow you to wear pantsuits. It's becoming less and less, but usually another attorney will give you a heads up before you walk into the courtroom, whether or not you're dressed appropriately. It's just wild. So those are some of the funky challenges that I faced while being an attorney in the South.

I obviously have a very strong sense of morality and justice to do what I do in the legal field, but also just being kind to other people. There is a value in being soft and in being kind. Eventually, you know, with enough experience, you learn who to give second chances to, and who to sort of shut the door on. But ultimately, I think that being kind is a superpower.