In the latest Rising Star spotlight, we sat down with Megan Sowell who joined Terrell Hogan after serving the community as an Assistant State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial District. Today, she brings passion to her work advocating for her clients who have been harmed as a result of medical negligence.
AALM: When did you first know you wanted to become an attorney? What drew you to this career?
MS: I first knew I wanted to become an attorney in college. While law graduates have a variety of career options after law school, I wanted to be in the courtroom. Being able to advocate for someone who has been wronged motivates me to go to work in the morning. To be able to do that in my hometown is a particularly rewarding experience.
AALM: What drew you to your current firm?
MS: I was drawn to Terrell Hogan because it has a great reputation and so that I could also work with my dad in the firm’s medical malpractice group. One thing about our group is that everyone in it knows about every case, and we work on them as a team. My role in the team focuses around trial preparation and presentation. I’m extremely fortunate to be mentored by excellent attorneys within our community; one of whom I get to call dad.
AALM: How did your time as an Assistant State Attorney in Jacksonville prepare you for your current practice?
MS: In addition to being able to serve my community and try numerous cases, being a prosecutor especially helped prepare me for dealing with the tragic medical malpractice cases we take on. Unfortunately, in both roles, I have seen people on some of the worst days of their lives. Working on cases involving victims of violent crimes and homicides has helped me better represent clients who have lost a loved one or themselves been a victim of catastrophic medical negligence.
AALM: With technology and an ever-global world, how do you see the legal profession evolving over your career? Do you believe this will be positive or negative?
MS: As a result of COVID-19, we have already seen a shift in technology through zoom court – which I don’t see going away any time soon. Since I am involved in cases all over the state, it’s convenient to attend a hearing or deposition online. The negative, however, is when you don’t take time to interact with opposing counsel face-to-face. To me, I think you have a better professional working relationship when you have had a chance to speak to someone in person and not just on a little screen.
AALM: What do you most hope to accomplish in the future?
MS: My main short-term goal is to co-counsel a trial with my dad. I grew up seeing him in trial, and to be able to try a case together would be incredibly special to me. My overall goal for the future is to continue advocating for people in the courtroom.
AALM: Tell us about your life outside the office.
MS: In this line of work, it’s important to take time to reset. I do this on the weekends by working in my garden or going to the beach. It’s easy for me to focus on just what’s in front of me when I’m planting something new or sitting by the ocean. Also, I’m very social so spending time with my family and friends is how I like to enjoy my time outside of work.
