Midland Chamber Ribbon Cutting
The Midland Chamber of Commerce came by Mackay Law Firm, PLLC yesterday February 11, 2025 for a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony. I was very honored to have the Chamber come by and set up this event for the firm and was also quite humbled. I got to visit with many of the chambers hardworking employees and volunteers (the ambassadors) and a good time was had by all. It was great to see Evan Thomas (Midland Chamber President & CEO). Me and Evan go way back to the days when we both worked closely together with the Odessa Chamber of Commerce through Young Professionals of Odessa. I was especially impressed with the plaque that was presented to the firm (picture in gallery!).
It is hard to believe that after ten years of practicing law, my dream of opening my own law firm has finally come true. However, I don’t know that this was necessarily a dream that I have always held since I graduated law school from Texas Tech back in 2013. At that time, the reality of having to pay for a bar examine prep course, and the daunting task of preparing for and ultimately passing the Texas Bar Exam was the first thing on my mind, and it loomed large and dreadful. That was always something I found quite humorous about law school, that you have graduation and this big ceremony where everyone dresses up and is happy for about a week, but then the very next week you have to turn around and drop $3,000 for a bar prep course and start studying for it every day like it’s a full time job. No rest for the weary I guess.
In this post I also wanted to express my gratitude for my mentors and colleagues along the way that made this possible to begin with. I could not, and I repeat, COULD NOT, have done it without them and I think they all know who they are. I learned so much as an associate at Atkins, Hollmann, Jones, Peacock, Lewis & Lyon, Inc. for six and a half years. What to do, but almost (no certainly) more importantly what NOT to do. I made friendships and memories there that will last a lifetime, and I am eternally grateful to everyone there. Especially to my paralegal Kaci Earnest and my mentor P.A. Lyon, who, as I learned recently, has since retired (well deserved).
I also got my first real taste of what it takes to manage a law practice when I worked at Davidson Sheen, LLP. They were based out of Lubbock and I was in the Odessa office. It was very tough, but also very rewarding. I was going through some very difficult personal struggles at that time and I thank my partners for their understanding and patience with me. Overall, I learned a ton from the experience and will never forget it.
After taking some time off, and doing some real soul searching about whether I even wanted to practice law or not, I came to the conclusion that yes I did want to practice law again, and that I was a good lawyer (all lawyers question themselves on this constantly, even though our egos don’t allow us to admit it sometimes). I am so grateful that I took this step and got Mackay Law Firm, PLLC up and running. I have never felt more personally or professionally fulfilled in my life. Yesterday was a great day at the ribbon cutting, and it was hard for me to not get emotional. I appreciate all the encouragement from my family, friends, and colleagues… it means the world to me!
