AALM: What initially drew you to the practice of law? Tell us about your journey to law school.
SB: I was taking general ed classes in community college and planning to be a recreation leader (a la Leslie Knope). I had no thought of law school. I was the first in my family to go to college; my parents had not even graduated from high school. Graduate school was nowhere on my radar. My history professor suggested law. At the time, my hippie boyfriend (now my husband of nearly 50 years) kept getting harassed by the police, which violated my sense of justice. I thought, why not?
AALM: Were there any particular challenges you faced entering law school or a legal career?
SB: When I started law school, I had a 20-month-old son. I had married young and my son was born during finals week of my senior year of college. I even took a final while in labor and aced it. He was 4 when I graduated.
Having a toddler was a challenge in law school and beyond, but my desire to spend time with my children ultimately led me to form my own firm. I figured out how to practice at home when attachments to emails were just beginning to be a “thing.” To do that, I hired an assistant who would drive to the office to pick up the mail and documents, run some errands, then drive my marked-up documents back to my secretary at the office each day.
AALM: What drew you to your practice?
SB: I originally wanted to defend criminals but found to my surprise that I liked tax. I offered to do an independent study about a new tax law. To write that, I needed to learn about pension plan tax deductions and the first law firm I worked at encouraged me to pursue an ERISA practice.
AALM: Tell us more about your decision to launch your own firm.
SB: I found myself working in a very large, international firm but valued time with my family more than any career goals. So, I formed my own firm. I spent two years saving up enough to cover the cost of opening a firm and when I did open, a number of clients stayed with me.
AALM: Tell us how the firm has grown over the last 30 years and what goals you have moving forward?
SB: The firm has grown – we had four lawyers who operated very independently in the beginning. Now, we have eight lawyers who work very collaboratively. ERISA/benefits have become much more complex over the years, particularly with the growth of 401(k), the restrictions on deferred compensation plans that were added in 2004 and the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010.
AALM: Tell us about how you seek to be a mentor to younger or aspiring lawyers.
SB: We have several younger lawyers and just recently hired our first law school graduate as a law clerk who will join the firm once admitted to the bar. I enjoy helping them learn not only the complex substance of this area of law but also how to grow a book of business, give good client service and run a law firm.
AALM: Can you share some advice with young first-generation lawyers or aspiring lawyers?
SB: Yes, first be in integrity with your own values. Second, networking is critical to your success. That investment will pay dividends over the years.
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