A Personal Reflection on Purpose: Finding Your “Why” in the Legal Profession

In this profession, we spend a lot of time focusing on the “what.” What kind of law we practice. What our caseload looks like. What firm we’re with, and how do I make partner. But in the quiet moments — in the early mornings, the late nights, the long drives home — a more meaningful question often bubbles up: Why do we do this?

That question is not a burden, it’s a gift. A compass. And whether you’re a young lawyer just beginning your journey or a seasoned practitioner decades into your career, I believe that consistently returning to your “why” is essential.

Before the Law

My own “why” has evolved over time. Before law school, I served as a sheriff’s deputy with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office. For nearly four years, my purpose was clear: serve and protect the community I called home. I believed deeply in that mission, and I remain forever proud of those who choose that calling.

But something inside me shifted. I didn’t want to walk away from service — I wanted to serve differently. I felt called to be on the other side of the law. Not enforcing it, but understanding it. Not arresting people, but helping them navigate moments of crisis and complexity.

That pull brought me to Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. I didn’t have a plan, just a conviction that there was something on the legal side that could reignite that sense of purpose.

From Business to People

After graduation, I joined a fantastic firm doing high-quality legal work for companies and corporations. It was fulfilling in many ways — a strong team, challenging work, and clients who trusted us. But after a while, I felt that same nudge again.

I thought back to my time in law enforcement — the direct connection to people, to families, to stories. I realized I needed to get back to that. To be closer to the people I was helping. To hear their problems and walk beside them.

So, in 2018, three young lawyers and I took a leap of faith. We opened our own personal injury firm. No safety net. No long-term plan. Just a shared belief in building something rooted in service and human connection.

The Leap That Changed Everything

It was scary. It was uncertain. But it was mine.

For the first time, everything in my professional life — every decision, every success, every failure — was powered by my own “why.” And in that, I found clarity and confidence I didn’t know I needed.

One quote that has stayed with me — and perfectly captures the spirit of that leap — is from Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: 
“The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them. If your dreams do not scare you, they're not big enough.”

That leap in 2018 scared me. But it also stretched me. And it gave me the chance to build the kind of legal career that aligns with my values, my experiences, and my purpose.

The Evolution of 'Why': A Personal Reflection

Over the past ten years of practicing law, I’ve learned that your “why” is not fixed — it evolves with you. In the early years, my “why” was simple and exciting: the pure joy of landing a job with a great firm and finally becoming a lawyer. That sense of validation and achievement drove me every day.

As time passed, that “why” matured. It became about professional fulfillment — doing good work, growing in the craft, and carving out a place for myself in the legal community. But now, as a husband and a father of two, my “why” has taken on even deeper meaning.

Today, I’m driven by the desire to do something meaningful not only for my clients and my colleagues, but also for my family. I want to come home each day knowing I did something worth doing — something my wife and kids can be proud of. My work is no longer just about me; it’s about what I bring home emotionally, spiritually, and purposefully to the people I love most.

This past year, that lesson was deepened in ways I could have never anticipated. I lost my mother after her heroic battle with cancer. Watching her fight, and reflecting on the life she lived, shifted my perspective in a profound way. A long life is never guaranteed — but a full, meaningful life is always within reach.

My mother spent over 30 years as an educator, pouring herself into the lives of her students. Her joy, her purpose, and her legacy didn’t come from accolades — they came from impact. Her career was her calling, and it brought her deep fulfillment. Losing her taught me more than I ever expected about what it means to live with purpose.

That experience has only strengthened my belief in the importance of finding your “why.” Not just in your career, but in your life. Your “why” will guide you, stretch you, and shape how you show up in the world. It’s worth finding, and it’s worth re-discovering as you grow.

A Call to Action: Find Your “Why” with the YLD

The LSBA Young Lawyers Division offers high-level programming and meaningful opportunities that can help you search for your “why,” develop your purpose, and reignite your passion for this profession.

Whether you’re looking for professional development, leadership opportunities, community engagement, or simply a chance to connect with others walking a similar path — I encourage every lawyer under 40 (or in their first five years of practice) to participate in at least one YLD event during their legal career.

Because I believe once you attend just one, you’ll discover something more. You’ll find purpose, passion, and a deeper sense of belonging in this profession we all share.

Let’s keep working to build a bar — and a future — driven by purpose and a relentless pursuit to finding your “why”.