What do you enjoy most about being an attorney and working at Presley & Presley?
Being an attorney allows you to be challenged and to encounter new and interesting scenarios almost every day. Each client’s case brings its own challenges; providing some level of peace and finality to each client is rewarding.
Working at Presley & Presley magnifies everything above. A significant portion of our work involves unsettled or novel areas of law, and finding ways to extend settled principles to our cases is very satisfying.
What is your strongest asset as an attorney?
With the exception of my blue booking, I would have to say it’s my researching and writing skills. Like I mentioned, many of our cases (especially insurance ones) involve unsettled or novel areas of law, at least in Missouri. To be successful, we have to look at what other states are doing and explain why those rules and decisions should be applied to Missouri, and our case in particular.
What was the driving force behind your pursuit of legal work?
No two days are the same. While I spend a good portion of my time in the office, each day can vary between fielding phone calls, researching and writing, or meeting with clients or attorneys. Other weeks I may be on the road for our cases outside of Kansas City dealing with inspections or court hearings.
Do you have any advice for students considering the legal profession?
Be prepared to put in your time as you’re coming up in the legal field. At least on the plaintiff’s side, there is not nearly as much courtroom drama as you see on television and not quite as many afternoons are spent playing golf. Additionally, not everything has to be cutthroat. The legal community is small and congeniality goes a long way.
What do you most enjoy doing in your spare time?
I really enjoy hunting, fishing and watching sports. My wife wishes the last one wasn’t so true.
