In 2017, NC State sophomore Shelsey Hall was asked by her aunt to edit a speech she was about to give. Her aunt is ShawnDya Simpson, and the speech was for Simpson’s swearing-in ceremony as a Supreme Court Justice for the State of New York.
“A big part of her career was compassion and forgiveness; not only forgiving people but hearing people,” said Hall, a personal injury attorney at Whitley Law Firm. “Even from a young age, I was always very talkative. But I was always willing to hear other people out. I think [my aunt] saw that in me early and I saw that in her.”
How You Get There
“Fifty-one percent of my job is client counseling,” said Hall. “It’s important to build relationships with the client.” That entails a level of handholding and pulling the client through the process, according to Hall.
“Even when they don’t know what’s best for themselves, I have to show them the outcome they want and how to get there.”
Hall’s practice includes complex litigation issues, including advocating against commercial defendants or numerous defendants, premises liability, dog bites, and motor vehicle collisions.
“I have the ability to advocate for others. Big insurance companies put up this facade that they care about you,” explained Hall. “And if you just pay your premium when you really need us, we’ll be there for you. And that’s not the reality. I think that’s the responsibility of personal injury attorneys to step in and ensure my client is getting what they deserve.”
Loving Kindness
Hall was born at Ft. Bragg and raised in Raleigh. Her mother was a contract specialist at NIH. Her father was in finance at the Department of Homeland Security.
She graduated from NC State University with a dual degrees in political science and philosophy. She earned a Master’s in Education from NC State and a Juris Doctor from the NC Central University School of Law.
Hall wrote a paper for one of her philosophy classes at NC State that had a profound impact on her. “It was on the concept of loving kindness and compassion. It’s not only about seeing what could be done but being a part of the good. I think it’s very important that we take an active role in pushing forward justice.”
To that end, Hall has been active in promoting DEI initiatives as an undergraduate, in graduate school and in her first job at the NC Department of Justice as a human resources coordinator in the Diversity and Inclusion Program
“As a black woman, I’m part of a marginalized community. My hope is to push forward all marginalized communities exponentially, especially the ones that I’m not a part of who have historically not had a voice.”
Healing Journey
Hall said she is very upfront with potential clients, “Forty-nine percent of my job is managing expectations.”
“The check that you get isn’t going to erase what happened to you,” said Hall. “And it might not even close this chapter of your life, especially when you’re dealing with a wrongful death.
“Instead, I say, what is the number that’s going to get you to move on to the next page, so you don’t need to look back? We’ve got to move forward. I want you to instead focus on your healing journey, whether that’s your physical health or grieving for a loved one. I want them to breathe and heal while I focus on getting them a monetary award they deserve.”
