San Diego-raised Amanda Williams was gazing at a Boston sky as snowflakes dropped onto her face for the first time.
Williams had crossed the continent to experience a new place and fresh things, making the wind-blown flurries of Beantown a hope fulfilled.
But even as this child of the Golden State marveled at the snowfall, a bigger quest awaited her in the classrooms of Boston College: She was there not to experience the weather but to take her first steps toward becoming a medical doctor.
Little did Williams know she was actually taking her first steps toward a career in law.
“I wanted to help people and, at 17, I thought being a doctor was the best way to do that,” Williams recalls. “But I took one class of general chemistry and realized the medical profession wasn’t for me.”
Fortunately, Williams was able to devise an alternative. “I’ve loved reading since I was a kid, so I decided to try law school,” she says.
Political science and economics were kinder to Williams than chemistry had been, and as she prepared to graduate from BC, she decided to once again experience a new place and fresh things. This time, her spirit of adventure took her to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
“My dad is a Vols fan. He swears he’d go to UT if he could redo college, so I looked into it,” Williams recalls.
Williams still harbored a desire to be of service as she arrived at UT. With this in mind, she envisioned a future as a criminal defense lawyer. However, she had a sense of déjà vu as she hit the books.
“I thought working within the justice system would be a great way to help people,” she explains. “But after taking a few classes, I realized it wasn’t the field for me.”
As Williams continued her ongoing mission to identify a career path, she secured a spot as a summer associate at Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison, a time-honored Chattanooga firm that offers a variety of legal services.
During her stint with Grant Konvalinka, Williams did extensive work in family law. As she assisted with an assortment of matters, she finally heard a key turn the lock on the door to her future.
“I enjoyed the person-to-person interaction and I felt like I was genuinely of service,” Williams says. “Helping someone resolve issues with their family and children is a big deal.”
Infused with a sense of purpose, Williams devoted herself to volunteer work during the remainder of her time at UT. As she plowed through her 3L year, she served as the College of Law’s pro bono director as well as a student attorney during the school’s domestic violence and expungement clinics.
Then came the news that made every misguided path worth the journey: Grant Konvalinka wanted Williams to practice family law at the firm.
“I enjoyed that work, so I feel lucky that they hired me after graduation,” she smiles.
Although Williams has only a few months of practice under her belt, she’s already addressed a variety of topics, including divorce, child custody, child support and paternity issues. The firm’s leaders collectively say in their announcement about her arrival that she “strives to provide zealous yet efficient representation while helping clients navigate one of the most emotional and challenging periods of their lives.”
Meanwhile, Williams is trying to keep her head above water.
“Being new at Grant Konvalinka is overwhelming in the best way because they expect you to be an attorney. When I walked in, they said, ‘Here are your cases,’ and I started drafting motions. That’s not to say they don’t teach you along the way, but you get the experience you need quickly, and I’m going to be a better attorney because of it. There’s been a lot of trial and error, but that’s the best way to learn.”
As Williams has settled in not only at Grant Konvalinka but also in Chattanooga overall, she’s realized that she’s quelled her spirit of adventure, she says. In other words, she’s content to remain where she’s landed rather than embark on another escapade or return to her childhood home.
“As much as I love San Diego and feel nostalgic when I return to visit family, I’ve outgrown it. A lot has changed in my life since then.”
Williams’ job is not the only thing anchoring her to Chattanooga; she’s also in a relationship with another attorney in town (she says only that he works at another firm) and has fallen in love with many of the outdoor amenities the Scenic City offers its residents. When William isn’t working, chances are she’s kayaking a local river, running along the Tennessee Riverwalk, reading a great book or cheering on the Tennessee Vols.
“Actually, yelling more than cheering,” Williams laughs.
Williams also has not forgotten her personal mandate to serve others when she can. She believes this tenet will eventually lead her to begin doing pro bono work again. Until that time comes, she intends to continue learning the best way she knows – through trial and error.
“I see myself becoming a more established and confident attorney who can ‘zealously and efficiently’ represent clients but also be empathetic in those hard times. That’s something I never want to lose.”