Her Story
About Crystal
Crystal Allison serves as a Senior Legal Assistant at a family law firm in Columbia, Missouri, a role she has held for approximately two to three years. In this position, she supports two attorneys and assists others as needed, handling the demands of family law matters including divorces, custody, and orders of protection. Prior to entering the legal field, Allison worked in a medical call center for insurance, including at UnitedHealthcare where she received above and beyond awards, as well as in administrative assistant and receptionist roles. She completed approximately two years of college education, majoring in criminal justice, though family responsibilities led her to pause her studies. Before her current position, she spent nearly two years at Mid-Missouri Legal Services, where she assisted disadvantaged families and domestic violence clients. Allison attributes her career shift to the loss of her mother in 2021, which motivated her to pursue work she had long desired, and she draws personal inspiration from her own experiences to help others in similar situations. She values trust and being detail-oriented in her professional life while balancing her personal belief in marriage with the realities of family law practice.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Crystal
01What do you attribute your success to?
I lost my mom back in 2021, and I was very unhappy in my job. After losing her, I wanted to move to something different, and this opportunity opened up for legal services. They took a chance on me, and I loved what I did, and I just felt like my mom would be very proud of me for pursuing something that I've always wanted to do.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
You are never too old to accomplish what you started out to do early in your life. One of the attorneys told me she got her law degree later and said if you've got the mindset to do it, do it. I wanted to be an attorney coming out of high school but family came first, and I always felt I was too old, but she inspired me not to feel that way.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Never to give up on their dream. They may get sidetracked, and something might happen where they can't continue it, but always shoot for the stars. And one day they will get there.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is balancing my belief in marriage and staying married with working in family law which involves divorces and custody. The greatest opportunity is being able to help mothers and children with orders of protection to ensure they are safe.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Trust and being detail-oriented professionally. In personal life, order and neatness, as I am a little OCD and everything has to be nice and neat and in order.
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