On Thursday evenings, you won't find me in front of a laptop reviewing deposition transcripts or drafting discovery responses. Instead, I'm in a gym filled with energy and chaos — coaching a group of elementary school cheerleaders.
I'm calling counts, spotting stunts, adjusting formations, and teaching young athletes how to lead, recover from mistakes and lift each other up — literally and figuratively.
What started as a way to give back to the sport that shaped me has grown into one of the most grounding and formative parts of my identity. I've coached competitive cheerleading for 17 years - long before I became a litigator. Coaching isn't just a passion - it's a practice that keeps me balanced, focused and connected to something bigger than myself.
At first glance, cheerleading and litigation may seem like worlds apart. But both require precision, adaptability, leadership and the ability to stay composed under pressure. Coaching has sharpened every part of how I approach my legal work — especially in the high-stakes, emotionally complex world of mass torts and personal injury. It brings me joy, but it also makes me a better lawyer.
Staying Grounded Under Pressure
When a stunt is wobbling midair, there's no room for panic. I've learned how to stay calm while others look to me for direction. That same steadiness carries over to depositions, courtroom arguments and trial.
In 2024, I was part of the trial team that secured a $10.5 million verdict for the family of a woman killed by a driver under the influence of aerosol duster. I cross-examined the criminal tortfeasor at trial — a moment that demanded calm, clarity and control. Those skills were sharpened long before I entered the courtroom — on cheer mats, in crowded gyms, surrounded by girls who needed me to lead with steadiness and conviction, even when the odds were stacked against them.
This composure goes hand-in-hand with accountability. As a coach, I show up on time, prepared and with a plan. My athletes count on me, and I hold myself to that standard. I bring the same discipline to my legal practice.
Keeping a handwritten checklist by your desk that can be reset every evening is one helpful way to start each day clearheaded and ready. The discipline I've developed in coaching — where every practice session matters and every athlete counts on me — has created an unshakable foundation for how I approach my legal responsibilities.
Building Confidence and Practicing Resilience
Coaching is about more than perfecting routines. It's about helping young girls find their voices, bounce back from setbacks and believe they're capable of more than they imagined. That mirrors my work with my clients — many of whom are navigating trauma, loss and unimaginable pain.
Coaching has taught me how to guide people through their fear, rebuild confidence after loss and model resilience. These are the same skills I use to support clients, co-counsel and colleagues in high-pressure moments.
In both cheer and law, things go wrong. Routines fall apart. Trials stretch for years. Opposing counsel throw curveballs. I've had to learn how to stay steady, even when everything feels off balance. That's one of the most important things I try to instill in my athletes too: Setbacks are part of the process, not the end of the story.
The real growth happens in how you respond — when you show up again, when you try again, when you lead again. That resilience is what builds confidence, on the mat and in the courtroom.
Seeing People Beyond the Surface
Cheerleading, like law, is often misunderstood. Many people think it's all glitter and smiles — just like many people think litigation is all drama and trial theatrics. But what really defines both worlds is the human connection.
Coaching girls who are navigating insecurity, family stress and identity formation has made me a better listener. It's taught me to be sensitive to what people don't say. If you are a lawyer representing individuals and families in wrongful death and injury cases, that ability to attune yourself to unspoken pain helps you to build deeper trust with your clients.
Reading the nonverbal cues of a nervous athlete translates directly to understanding when a client is struggling with grief they can't articulate, or when opposing counsel is posturing.
Both coaching and litigation require the ability to see past the surface presentation and connect with the deeper human needs underneath. That skill — seeing beyond the surface — has become one of my greatest strengths, especially in building trust with clients and colleagues.
Protecting Joy and Sustaining Balance
Being a trial lawyer is demanding. We carry our clients' trauma, manage relentless deadlines and are expected to perform with perfection. Coaching keeps me grounded. It reminds me to laugh, to celebrate small wins and to find joy in growth.
There's something about watching a young girl nail a skill she's been struggling with for weeks that fills me up in a way no verdict ever could. As lawyers, we deal with heavy things — grief, injustice and trauma. Coaching gives me a space to lead and connect with something joyful.
That balance is what sustains me. Cheerleading doesn't pull me away from my legal career — it fills the parts of me that law alone can't reach. And in doing so, it strengthens every part of how I show up in my work: focused, energized and deeply human.
Every lawyer needs a reminder that they are more than their caseload, and that sense of perspective can help to prevent burnout. Personally, and more importantly, it reminds me why I chose this work in the first place: to uplift others and make space for transformation, both in and out of the courtroom.
Leading by Example and Staying Present Under Pressure
As a cheer coach, I can't ask my athletes to show up early, stay focused or bring their best unless I'm doing the same. That mindset carries over into my legal career.
Coaching has made me hyperaware of how my habits — like preparation, attitude and consistency — can influence the energy and expectations of those around me. Even when I'm not in a formal leadership role, I know that how I show up matters. Whether you're collaborating with colleagues, working closely with staff or contributing to a trial team, leading through example is an essential skill. Actions often speak louder than titles.
Coaching has also taught me the value of complete presence. I can't multitask while a group of elementary girls are yelling in the background, and I definitely can't check emails while someone's being tossed in the air. That kind of presence is rare in the legal world, where our attention is constantly pulled in multiple directions.
But coaching reminds me what it means to give my full focus to the task — and people — in front of me. It's a skill I bring to my clients and trial teams every day. This presence becomes particularly critical during high-stakes moments — whether I'm spotting a stunt or cross-examining a witness, the ability to be completely in the moment often determines the outcome.
Final Thoughts
Cheerleading has shaped the kind of lawyer I am — disciplined, focused, resilient and deeply committed to the people I serve. It's not a side hobby. It's part of how I lead, how I advocate and how I grow. Whether I'm in front of a jury or a group of elementary school athletes, I bring the same goals to the table: to guide, to empower and to leave people stronger than I found them.
The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employer, its clients, or Portfolio Media Inc., or any of its or their respective affiliates. This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.
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