Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Sparks.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
Growing up, I always told people I wanted to be a lawyer, but I needed a real concept outside what I saw on The Good Wife. Luckily, my family has always supported me without reservation, so no matter how half-baked my goal was, if I wanted to achieve it, they would help me. In my first year of law school, I lived at home, and my parents took to cooking for me, cleaning for me, and even doing my laundry occasionally so that I could focus on learning how to study for the first time. Ironically, the first time I was a victim of the dreaded “cold call” during law school, I only knew the answer because of an episode of The Good Wife. Besides that, everything I learned about the law in school was different than my expectations, but I genuinely enjoyed it. I interned at a personal injury law firm during my last two years in law school and started at that firm as an attorney after graduating and passing the bar. After a few years, my sister-in-law, Paige, told me she would begin to work and would love it if I joined her. I spent a week alternating between telling her that she was absolutely out of her mind and asking questions about what it would look like if I did make the jump. I told my family and husband what I was contemplating doing, and I always had their full support. Paige and I started our law firm in May 2022 and have been so happy to practice law in the way that suits our personalities and take on cases in which we can fully invest ourselves.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
I have had a very privileged life and have not faced a fraction of the struggles many people go through. There have been challenges, though, in being a younger female attorney. While the culture in the legal field is shifting, there is still a lot of sexism that I was not prepared to face. I have been told by opposing counsel that they only wanted to speak to a “man in charge,” that I am “unpleasant” for disagreeing with them, and that I probably only went to law school to find a husband. It used to upset me that I was being disregarded simply for being a woman, but the more it happens, the more I learn to use it to my advantage. I also have always taken issue with how mental health is handled in our field. We are encouraged to work long hours, be available at night and on weekends, and are always in competition. For years, I felt that to be a good lawyer, I had to make being a lawyer my only identity. This was an alarmingly unsustainable path, so when Paige and I decided to start our firm, we made a point to implement policies and practices that would allow us to have that work-life balance I had lost. It was a huge adjustment in the short term, but now we get more done in less time because we are focused and productive while working instead of depleted and stressed!
I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Sparks Law Firm?
I started my law firm with my sister-in-law, Paige Sparks. While pretty much everyone who doesn’t know us well told us it was a terrible idea to work with an “in-law” of all people, Paige and I found it very comforting to know that we were stuck with each other for life (hopefully!) We practice in Plaintiff’s personal injury, consumer protection, and employment law. Our firm is most known for our social media presence – Paige crushes it with all of our marketing, and her TikTok has wholly taken off. She shares legal facts, explains what is going on in noteworthy lawsuits, and gives an unfiltered view of what it is like being a lawyer. This is an essential part of our practice because we want people to understand their rights and the laws so that they feel comfortable if they ever have to go through a lawsuit. Like the legal information we share, we differ from most law firms because we are happy to be human with our clients. People who come to us are almost always in a situation they do not want to be in and have gone through something terrible. We want our clients to feel comfortable sharing with us, and the best way to do that is to be authentic and transparent. We have no problem explaining the good, the bad, and the ugly because if we needed help, we would want to know everything, too!
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Can you share something that might surprise us?
It might be more weird than surprising, but I can talk with my mouth closed! Some celebrities said they could do it, and a teen magazine I read as a kid taught me how. It could be a lot more helpful talent, but it always plays well at parties!
Pricing:
- Free Consultations
- Contingency Fee Representation Model
Contact Info:
- Website: sparks-legal.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthasparkslegal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SparksLawLLC
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-sparks-5b130180/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sisters-in-law
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawyerpaige
