During Women’s History Month we’re celebrating someone who has been an intregral part of CJMH Law for over 40 years... Shelley.
Shelley began her legal career in 1984 after making a bold move from advertising to law school. At the time,?she was earning $750 a month in a high-pressure job that felt straight out of “Mad Men,†but her brother, her then?boyfriend, and especially her mother encouraged her to take a different path.
After Shelley’s father passed away, her mother stepped in to handle the probate process. Unimpressed with the first lawyer she hired, she made the decision to move on and brought in Dunham Jewett, whose integrity and professionalism left a lasting impression.
That moment sparked Shelley’s interest in the law and set her on a new course. More than forty years later, Shelley is still with Crady Jewett McCulley & Houren LLP. She is the only member of her law school class who chose to spend her entire career at one firm.
For Shelley, the decision was always about the people. She found a team of smart, collegial lawyers who prioritized professionalism and excellent client service. An environment that gave her the opportunity to build a successful and satisfying career.
Over the years, Shelley has seen the legal profession evolve. Maternity leave, once an afterthought, is now a given?at many firms. Remote work, once unthinkable, is part of the landscape today, thanks in part to groups like?
Mothers Esquire.
She has also taken inspiration from women judges who refused to follow outdated expectations. Judges who changed their names after marriage and continued to advance in their careers. Shelley made that same decision without hesitation.
Even with all the advancements in technology, from fax machines to instant client communication, balancing?a demanding career with family life is still a challenge.
Shelley often reminds younger lawyers not to sacrifice time for exercise, self-care, or personal relationships in exchange for more hours at the office. Ignoring those parts of life, she says, makes practicing law and life itself much harder than it needs to be.
As Shelley approaches retirement, she is focused on what matters most. Leaving something behind that makes the path clearer for the women who come next. We are grateful for everything she has brought to CJMH Law,?
to our clients, and to the legal community.
#womenshistorymonth #legalexcellence #leadership
