It is always interesting to hear stories of professionals in the fields of law and medicine, particularly why they chose their careers. It is even more interesting to hear them discuss what motivates them to go to work every day and what they love the most about their jobs. Doctors and lawyers also tend to have very interesting stories about clients and patients they have served during the course of their career.
For example, one of the doctors we interviewed recalls a time he was working at a hospital and had a patient who came in unresponsive with a bleed in his brain. He successfully treated the man back to recovery. Several months later, that same man returned to the hospital to visit someone else. The man recognized the doctor, ran up to him and said, “You saved my life, I remember you, thank you so much!” The man explained to the doctor that he couldn’t have survived without the hospital’s treatment.
Stories like this are the stories you never hear. These are the types of experiences that keep our legal and medical professionals motivated to serve us in times of need.
Here is Part Two of the interviews we did with doctors and lawyers across the United States. Here is Part One.
6) Joleena Louis, Attorney at Joleena Louis Law
What made you decide to become an attorney?
I was very shy in high school, so in my 9th-grade social studies class, I was horrified when my teacher assigned me the role of the prosecutor in our JFK assassination mock trial. But once I got into it, I saw a different side of myself – I felt strong and was confident. I won the mock trial and immediately learned everything I could about getting into law school.
How long have you been practicing?
I’ve been practicing since 2011.
What do you love the most about being an attorney?
I am a family law attorney so I love being able to help my clients protect what matters to them. I get to know my clients very well and I have the opportunity to help them through the most difficult time in their life.
Describe a memorable story of a client? What was so memorable about this client?
I try to take one or two pro bono cases every year, usually victims of domestic violence. My most memorable client was a woman who was able to leave a horribly abusive and controlling relationship and went on to start her own business and really take control of her life. It was amazing watching her transformation from meek and afraid to confidently confronting her abuser in court. She is the reason I do what I do.
7) Tor Hoerman, Attorney at TorHoerman Law
What made you decide to become an attorney?
“I would have loved to have been a doctor, but I did not do well in Freshman biology. After obtaining my undergraduate degree, off I went to law school.
How long have you been practicing?
3 years of law school and 22 years of practicing law, here I am 25 years later with a thriving practice that bears my name.
What do you love the most about being an attorney?
What I love absolutely most of all about being an attorney is making my clients feel comforted in a very difficult situation, and when we are able to get them a good result, there is simply no greater feeling in the world.
Describe a memorable story of a client? What was so memorable about this client?
The most memorable case that comes to mind is a single mother and child who suffered a severe, lifelong, disable injury at the end of a daily caregiver. The impact was devastating on the family, but Mom was amazing and patient in hold the family together. The money awarded in trial was put into accounts that would pay for the real needs of the boy; schooling, tutoring, therapy. Not just what was necessary, but what would give this great little kid a chance in life. The emotions are hard to describe, but they were real, and the impact on this mom and boy have been profound.”
8) Adam T. Funk, Attorney at Potts Law Firm
What made you decide to become an attorney?
I strongly believe in the American justice system. There are only a handful of countries that allow the common man to seek justice against a large corporation for a wrong that was committed. Being a part of that justice system and representing those who were injured became my calling at a very early age. I felt it was my duty to help our society.
How long have you been practicing?
I have been practicing since 2008 – coming up on 10 years!
What do you love the most about being an attorney?
Describe a memorable story of a client? What was so memorable about this client?
I once represented a woman who was taking a pharmaceutical drug for migraine headaches. The drug caused birth defects in her baby and the pharmaceutical corporation didn’t warn about those risks even though it knew about it. We were able to secure a significant amount of money for the mother and her baby that set that child up for the rest of his life. The mother still sends me a thank you card each year for the holidays and I still call her boy for his birthday each year. That case solidified my calling of being an attorney.
