Today we’d like to introduce you to Dorothy Paul.
Hi Dorothy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m originally from a small town in Haiti called Saint Marc. My family and I moved to Brooklyn, New York when I was just one year old. We moved a lot in the northeast until finally settling in Georgia when I was 11 years old. Growing up, I thought I would be a doctor, like many immigrant children. During college, I even majored in biochemistry. However, during my junior year in college, there was a shift. I started realizing that I did not enjoy my math or science classes. I couldn’t imagine going to medical school to immerse myself into more science and math. I decided that I needed to change my career path or else I would be miserable. I simply went to the registrar’s office, reviewed my transcript, and identified my strongest subjects-which were all social study courses. I knew that whatever I was going to do I needed to be good at it, be able to make money, and help people. I met with a counselor who told me about law school. I took a constitutional law class and loved it. I changed my major the same day to political science and never looked back.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been a smooth road but not without challenges. I say it’s been a smooth road because I did not experience anything traumatic during the relevant times. I come from “humble beginnings”, which includes its fair of struggles-mostly financial. I’ve been working since I was 15 years old. I’ve worked 2-3 jobs during some seasons to balance helping my family and sustaining my lifestyle. Another common struggle in my journey has been prioritizing my long-term goals over short-term gratification. I’ve had to miss out on some experiences to study or work. However, my family (especially my mom) is my biggest cheerleader and I often felt empowered. I trusted the process and knew that things would get better.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I started my law firm in 2019. At first, I was only assisting close friends and family with their legal needs (i.e., reviewing contracts, providing criminal defense, drafting agreements, and sending demand letters). Eventually, the referrals started growing and I was getting a new case every week. In May 2022, I decided to leave the law firm I was working at and make my firm my full-time responsibility. My firm now specializes in personal injury, criminal defense, civil litigation, and small business matters. I have represented individuals in a wide range of legal matters and have been able to provide my clients with desired results.
My legal background is interesting because I started as a criminal defense attorney. I was working for the largest criminal defense firm in Georgia, providing representation to indigent clients in Clayton and Henry County. I only worked there for one year but won all ten of my trials. I then went and made the shift into civil litigation. I worked at Georgia’s oldest black firm where I learned some of the best practices I still use today. For the next 5-7 years, I became specialized in litigating cases involving catastrophic injury and death cases throughout the United States. I’ve represented individuals, corporations, and insurance companies in general liability, premises liability, and other complex litigation.
I am most proud of how much my clients love me! They call or text me and claim me as “their lawyer”. They literally call me for everything, even if it’s not my practice area or not legal at all. I think it shows how much they trust me after seeing my work. I am also proud that I am providing access to legal services to people who don’t necessarily know lawyers personally. I think that sets me apart from others.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Balance. I am a recovering perfectionist. I used to obsess about things being perfect and it used to cripple me from trying new things and experiencing things positively. It’s also a huge waste of time. I think perfectionism can lead to unhappiness. Now, I focus on being more flexible and appreciating everything. I accept that things will never be perfect, but they can still be the best. That is major when achieving overall happiness.
Pricing:
- Personal Injury Consultations are FREE!
- All other consultations start at $175.
Contact Info:
- Website: TheDPLawFirm.com
- Instagram: dorothy_paul_esq
- Facebook: facebook.com/TheDPLawFirm
