We sat down with Marissa Maggio, the founder of Maggio Injury Law in Plano, Texas. In her undergrad at the University of Texas, she was a sprinter on the track and field team. Her ambitions even took her to the Olympic trials before she found her way to the practice of law.
AALM: Tell us about your time in track and field as a “Lady Longhorn” at UT.
MM: Being a Lady Longhorn meant being part of a professionally run organization that cared about the athletes. The coaching was great and the level of athletes was at the highest. I am forever appreciative of the sprint coach Paul Richards who knew how to work with everyone to get the best performances. I’m a true believer that coaching makes all the difference for the athlete, and UT also understood that philosophy. The experience was a perfect example of how multiple people from multiple backgrounds come together for a common cause and exceeded their own and everyone else’s performance expectations, where excellence is a constant environment, and everyone adapts to that as normal.
AALM: What was your best event? What did you enjoy most about it?
MM: I was truly a 100-meter specialist. My start out of the blocks was not the strongest, so I was always catching people at the line in the indoor 60 meters and my speed endurance was not as strong as my overall speed, so the 200 meters was always a challenge.
The 100 meters was my opportunity to be just me, the fast kid on the playground who could run away from anyone at tag in a burst of energy that would explode me away! I loved the way my body felt running fast. It was peaceful, elating, simple and powerful and quiet all at the same time.
AALM:Tell us about your experience competing in the USA National Championships in 1993 and for the Italian National Team in the European Championships in 1994.
MM: In 1993, I ran in the US Indoor National Championships in Madison Square Garden and then in the outdoor season qualified for the USA Olympic Festival Team. It is always a thrill for an athlete to qualify for a national level competition and to try to qualify for a national team. Before the Olympic Festival, I hurt my foot so I notified USA Track and Field that I would not be able to make it that year. I thought it was fair to make space for the next qualifying athlete to represent the East Coast team rather than going to the event injured and unable to compete.
In 1994, my 100-meter time in the USA ranged between 30th and 50th; in Italy, I had the fastest time that year. I requested a waiver to compete for Italy. Typically, when an athlete makes a national team (like I did for the USA), the athlete has to wait two years before competing for another country. Thomas McClean, with USA Track & Field, heard my situation and understood the opportunity competing for Italy would open for me and my athletic career. He graciously waived my sit out period.
I was selected for the 4×100 meter relay team in the European Championships held in Helsinki. It was a great experience to travel with the national team, to live in the athletes village, and to participate in opening and closing ceremonies. I also got to catch up with Patric Boden, a javelin thrower from Sweden who was a teammate of mine at UT Austin.
Unfortunately, the foot injury was not holding up well and prevented me from racing at the event.
AALM: In your athletic career, what accomplishment are you most proud to have achieved?
MM: The journey is the best of memories. There are always highs and lows, but 20 years on a mission of finding out just how good I was, was the best part. Funny as far as one event, I would say the first major win, which would be State Championship in 1987 when I won the 100 meters my senior year of high school, was the most thrilling because it showed four years of work from my freshman year to senior year with the goal of winning the State Championship, and it happened. I was thrilled.
AALM: Why did you decide to attend law school?
MM: I chose law school probably by the time I was a sophomore in high school. I wanted a career where I had independence and could use my advanced degree in a multitude of careers. I wanted options.
AALM: What were your goals at the time for your career?
MM: Back then I thought I might eventually be a judge but ended up enjoying the practice of law so much that I stuck with being a lawyer! For the first eight years of my career, I was competing in Europe, so I had to balance training and being a lawyer. I was able to work out a schedule with Fulbright and Jaworksi, thanks to partner Patricia Finn Braddock, whereby I was able to train and spend summers in Europe for the competition season. It’s the people along the way, who are the village that help athletes focus on what they need to do to perform on a career level. Patricia is a true champion of professional women creating a bridge for other women.
AALM: How did you come to specialize your practice in brain injury cases?
MM: I practice in a variety of plaintiff’s personal injury specialties but have found that brain and spinal injury clients go through so much with orthopedic care needs and neurological care needs, which I can relate to as an athlete. I’ve had my share of injuries, and survived and came back from them and know with the correct care, advocacy and support team, all my clients can live fulfilling lives, even with a body that has been injured. So often clients do not realize they have brain injuries; it makes such a difference in their lives to assist them with realizing what has happened and getting therapy and help.
AALM: What inspired you to launch your own law firm?
MM: I’ve practiced in a large law firm, medium sized, and small, and loved the work and the independence that the legal field provides. My own practice is something that is an extension of all my years of legal and athletic training, an extension of all I’ve done.
AALM: What goals or milestones do you hope to achieve in your career next? Any other big changes ahead?
MM: I leave the future open to what comes. I find that everything is material to be used in building good for our clients and ourselves and our community.
