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Brouse McDowell associate receives a “30 for the Future” award
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: September 28, 2016
People choose careers for all kinds of reasons. Akron native Amanda Parker decided to become a lawyer while participating in a program in middle school that was designed to encourage students to pursue professions in the healthcare field.
“The program was called ‘healthcare in progress’ and we were given the chance to shadow doctors, nurses and hospital executives,” said Parker. “During one of my visits to a hospital I almost passed out when I saw blood. It became clear I could not become a doctor so I decided to focus on law instead.”
Now a litigation associate at Brouse McDowell, she said she definitely made the right choice.
“I love the firm and the people I work with,” said Parker. “I do a lot of insurance recovery work, which is incredibly complex and very interesting.
“I have so many amazing mentors at this firm,” she said.
Recently two of her mentors, Brouse McDowell partners Lucas Blower and Amanda Leffler, nominated Parker for a Greater Akron Chamber “30 for the Future” award. The award is given to professionals between the ages of 25 and 39, who have gone above and beyond to contribute to their industries and the Greater Akron region.
“I think the world of Amanda,” said Leffler, who chairs the litigation practice group. “She hit the ground running and does an excellent job handling insurance recovery and litigation matters.
“Not only does she give her all at the firm, she is also very involved in several community organizations,” said Leffler, a former recipient of the “30 for the Future” award.
Parker is one of 31 people selected to receive the award this year.
“I was very surprised to be nominated and quite humbled to have actually been chosen,” said Parker, 28. “I feel like I have not been actively contributing long enough to have done anything worthy of this award.”
Brouse McDowell managing partner Marc Merklin said he wasn’t surprised that Parker was chosen. “Amanda was a strong candidate for the award given her involvement and immersion in the community,” said Merklin. “As a lawyer at our firm who has only been practicing for three years, she is very talented. I know that the dedication she shows to her clients and the firm is the same dedication that she has to the community.”
Parker grew up in Akron with her two younger sisters, Ashten Walker and Alexis Parker. Her father Eric is an Akron firefighter and her mother Kellie works in the healthcare billing industry.
In 2009 she graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in applied conflict management. She later earned her J.D./M.B.A. from The Ohio State University. Before graduating, Parker was awarded a Moritz Corporate Fellowship.
The Moritz Corporate Fellowship Program matches new graduates of The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law with the general counsel offices of national corporations.
Parker worked in The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s legal department in Akron.
“While I was at Goodyear I tried to form a pro bono clinic,” said Parker. “There was plenty of interest, but it did not really take off.
“I am still working with people at Goodyear to put a Goodyear pro bono clinic together, which would be staffed by Goodyear attorneys to help pro bono clients in the Akron area.”
She joined Brouse McDowell in 2014. “I initially wanted to work on product liability matters but they don’t handle many of those cases,” said Parker. “I had never considered insurance recovery, but I am very happy working on the cases because there are so many angles to explore.”
In the future, Parker said she’s hoping to develop expertise in cybersecurity.
“The law has not really caught up with this area,” she said. “I think it’s extremely interesting.”
Licensed in Ohio and New York, Parker is a member of the Akron and New York State bar associations as well as the American Inns of Court.
Parker, who lives in Goodyear Heights with her young son Jackson, belongs to Torchbearers and is an alumni mentee at the United Way National Women’s Leadership Council. She also handles pro bono cases for Community Legal Aid Services in Akron.
“I do a lot of volunteer work through Torchbearers and United Way,” she said.
She’s been accepted to BVU’s (Business Volunteers Unlimited) YP Leader Corps. A joint effort between BVU: The Center for Nonprofit Excellence and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the program is designed to prepare young professionals to be leaders in Akron. Parker starts on Oct. 6.
“I have made a point to give back to the community even before high school,” said Parker. “I believe that communities need civic-minded citizens to be happy and healthy.”
As for the future, Parker said she foresees a long career at Brouse McDowell. “I want to become a partner at Brouse and I could actually see myself retiring from the firm.”
Parker and the other recipients will be recognized during a ceremony on Sept. 29 at E.J. Thomas Hall in Akron. For more information go to https://akronohcoc.wliinc18.com/events/30-for-the-future-609/details?dnh=true.