Dallas Attorney Says Education Leads To A Purposeful Life
Nicole Knox knows her way around state and federal courtrooms. She is an attorney that specializes in white-collar criminal defense cases. Knox earned her law degree from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, where she completed an internship at the Dallas County District Attorney's Office, Felony Trial Division, and she earned first place honors at the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association Mock Trial Competition. In addition to representing her clients, Knox routinely challenges the legal community to recognize and resolve gender issues among the least diverse profession in our country.
Why did you pursue a law degree?
"I pursued my JD because I was searching for a career that would allow me to serve a purpose higher than myself."
What would you tell someone who is considering returning to school to earn a higher degree?
"If you want to do it, then do it. In my case, I worked for two years in real estate after college. It's a great job, and many people are wonderful at it, but I felt like my calling was to serve others through a different vessel. The two years between college and law school allowed me to reevaluate my life, to discover my discipline for hard work, and to find my passion, which is defending our laws."
What was the biggest challenge you faced when pursuing your degree?
"My biggest challenge was convincing myself that I could do it. Once I started believing in myself, I began finding solutions to challenges in my path."
What was the biggest reward for earning your law degree?
"My biggest reward is the confidence I gained from accomplishing something that challenged me. Now, my confidence allows me to be able to stand up every day and defend a citizen accused of a crime. A strong defense is fundamental to the integrity of our justice system and to think that I have a role in defending our liberties encourages me to fight a little harder each day."
Robin D. Everson is a native Chicagoan who resides in Dallas, Texas. Her appreciation for art, food, wine, people and places has helped her become a well-respected journalist. A life-long lover of education, Robin seeks to learn and enlighten others about culture. You can find her work at Examiner.com