While many attorneys enjoy helping the "common man," to Ashley Young, no one is common.
"I make it a point to show respect and deference to everyone. Unfortunately, some people have not experienced a lot of that before,†she said. "One of my goals is to establish a connection with everyone I talk to.â€
To Ashley, being a good lawyer is partly being a good teacher.
"I like giving people new information, explaining things to people because when they understand what's going on, they feel less vulnerable," she said. "I explain why I am asking a question and what it means. I want them to feel informed.â€
Much of her empathy comes from being the daughter of a public school administrator and from being reared in small towns throughout North Carolina: Henderson, Newton Grove, Elizabeth City and Four Oaks.
"I was accustomed to being in communities where most folks knew and cared about each other,†she said.
Ashley spent most of her legal career focusing on medical malpractice and sexual abuse cases, a subset of personal injury. While she found this rewarding, it was also emotionally draining, especially after she became a mother.
"I took my cases home with me; I dreamed about them," she said.
At the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, she assists people with a wide array of personal injury concerns. What she most enjoys about her position is the ability to educate her clientele about how the law works.
"Honesty is very important to me,†she says. "It helps my clients feel respected and to set reasonable expectations."
When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, son, daughter, three sisters and a full extended family.
She spends her limited "alone time" jogging, a hobby she has kept up for more than 20 years. "I jog four miles every day," she said. "It keeps me focused.â€
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