Recently, Women and the Law Division (WLD) Executive Committee member, Emily VanTyle, had the opportunity to sit down and chat with WLD member, Megan Cain. Megan is an associate at Tuohy Bailey & Moore LLP. We are excited to honor Megan and get to know her a little better!
Tell us about your practice.
I am an associate attorney at Tuohy Bailey & Moore in downtown Indianapolis where I practice corporate and civil litigation. I regularly represent businesses and individuals in matters involving medical negligence, contract negotiations, shareholder disputes, entity formation and miscellaneous civil matters. I also handle cases involving divorce, paternity, adoption, child custody and personal injury.
Prior to law school, you worked in marketing for several years, what made you decide to make the switch?
I majored in telecommunications in college and felt a strong pull to a career in marketing/communications after college. That being said, I always knew I would go to law school. After I landed a marketing gig, I went to law school at night while working full-time as the marketing director for an Indianapolis downtown law firm.
Did marketing provide you with any useful skill sets that you use as an attorney now?
Definitely! Marketing is all about relationships and selling a product/experience. It helped me foster a better understanding of people, which in turn helped me better connect with my clients.
Mentorship and those relationships are especially important in the legal community for women. How do you try and be a mentor for others?
Agreed – mentorship is incredibly important! As a first-generation college student who came from a small town in Indiana, I know first-hand how important it is to find your tribe early on. You need people to guide you, support you and whom you can talk candidly with (about life and work).
As a mentor, I try to connect with younger females on a personal level. I want to know about their life outside of work, their five-year goals, their family, etc.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I love to spend time with my family—I’m married and have two girls. I love to travel and I’m obsessed with all things true crime. This past year I started writing for Indianapolis Mom, a local blog that features perspectives from mothers on all things life and family. You can read some of my work at Indianapolismoms.com.
If you could give one piece of advice to new moms or persons navigating the parenting and work space, what would you tell them?
Absent blowing a statute of limitations, there is nothing that cannot be fixed. My friend and mentor, Tony Ratliff, told me that a few years ago. I was new to my current firm and over-analyzing every detail (and every mistake) of my practice. It got to a point where my anxiety of messing up was hindering my happiness. Once I internalized those words, it clicked for me. So if you are new to the practice of law, take a deep breath and know that everything is fixable…except blowing a SOL…best to triple-check those deadlines!
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