Third Year Law Student Brennan Baxter Wants to Focus on Family Law

Personal Life

Brennan Baxter is a third year law student at Appalachian School of Law and anticipates a May 2013 graduation. Although Brennan has several areas of interest including immigration law, entertainment law, business law, bankruptcy law and any kind of contract work, she plans on opening her own law firm and practicing family law and Guardian ad Litem in Knoxville, Tennessee or Atlanta, Georgia. The law student has a passion for helping individuals and acknowledges that one person can't change the world, but believes that when she becomes an attorney, she can do a great amount of good for people.


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Brennan was born in Knoxville, TN and raised in Newport, TN. Although Brennan is an only child, she grew up with her cousins and never felt like she was alone. She attended the University of Tennessee, where she graduated with a B.A. in History in May 2010. While studying at the University of Tennessee, Brennan was a member of Gamma Sigma Sigma, a community service sorority from 2007-2010. She completed over forty hours of community service every semester. Brennan also served on the Executive Board of Gamma Sig from 2008-2010. She earned the Gamma Sigma Sigma Scholarship Chair and was a recipient of the University Scholarship.

At Appalachian School of Law, Brennan is involved with PDP, an honors legal fraternity. From 2011 until 2012, she served as an associate editor of the Appalachian Journal of Law. In 2011, the student devoted her time to the Ram Medical Clinic, where she assisted individuals by providing blankets and warm chocolate. Brennan is currently dedicating twenty-five hours of community service, which includes volunteering at an animal shelter. She is responsible for bathing, feeding, playing and providing medicine to several animals. Brennan also assists with the adoption process and makes sure each animal can find a safe and loving home.

In 2011, Brennan was an extern for Judge John Bell in General Sessions Court in her hometown of Newport, TN. She researched issues, drafted opinions, and observed court proceedings. Brennan stated she learned everything from him and believes Judge Bell is one of the smartest people she knows in her life. She admitted, “I admire how the judge doesn't let anything from the outside influence him.”

During the summer of 2012, Brennan was an intern at the firm of Lefkoff, Rubin, Gleason, and Russo. The intern worked in the Collections department of the firm. She prepared motions and other legal documents. Brennan will forever be grateful to the firm for giving her the position. She learned more than she could ever imagine during the few summer months she worked there.

When Brennan isn't studying, she enjoys photography and reading, especially biographies. One of her favorite biographies is about JFK and she is currently reading a biography about Marilyn Monroe. She also enjoys attending the University of Tennessee football games and rooting for the Vols.

Brennan's Academic Law Career and Future Aspirations

Why did Brennan go into the law? She stated, “I have a passion for helping others. I understand that one person can't change the world, but I believe that as an attorney, I can do a great amount of good for others.”

Brennan was asked, “Would you like to share with us your aims and aspirations?” She said the following: “I hope to find a position as an attorney in either Tennessee or Georgia. I'm interested in many different kinds of law, so I'm not certain on the specifics of that job. However, I see myself advancing in that job after a few years. Eventually, I would like to have my own firm. I hope to maintain great relationships with my family and friends while working full-time. Additionally, I hope to be able to travel the world with those that matter most to me.”

What are Brennan's key accomplishments? She claimed, “Despite coming from a town where few people get an undergraduate degree, I am about to graduate from law school. I feel as if I had to overcome a lot of things to get where I am.” Brennan continued to say that her mom was the first person in the family to graduate from college and she feels like she went above and beyond what she was supposed to do.

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Brennan discussed her key strengths and skills that she would like to use to advance her career goals. “My perseverance. I never give up. I have a certain stubbornness about me that I believe will benefit me and my clients.”

As for her weakness, Brennan noted, “I can sometimes get hung up in the details of things. However, I have often found that this weakness can become a strength with legal work.”

Many readers are probably wondering how Brennan handles new assignments. The third year law student asserted, “I'm a big list person. When given a new assignment, I typically make a list of the things I need to do in order to attack the project head on.”

Where does Brennan derive her confidence? She replied, “I believe that no one is truly confident. Everyone is self-conscious about one thing or another. I think that confidence is something that you have to fake until you feel it and others are convinced.” The candid student explained that if other individuals think you are confident and believe in you, then you will be confident and believe in yourself.

Three Wishes to Live By, Dealing with Fear, Stress Management Tactics and Facing Obstacles

If Brennan had three wishes, she would wish for a legal job before graduation in May, to always be able to make a difference in other people's lives, and to extend the number of hours in a day.

In regards to handling fear, Brennan stated, “Fear is always present. There are always going to be things that scare me. However, I know that nothing good comes easy and that if it's something I want, it will be worth it. The fear serves as motivation. If I'm not scared, my goals probably aren't big enough.”

Does Brennan have any stress management tactics? She answered, “Yes, I make lists. When I have an overwhelming amount of work to do, I make a list of all things that need to be done and then I number them in order of importance. Seeing a game plan in front of me seriously reduces the amount of stress.” When asked if this method works for her, Brennan assured, “Yes, it really does. If I can sit down and put it in front of me and knock it down one by one, it really works.”

When Brennan was asked, “Have you faced any obstacles in your life?,” she replied, “I face obstacles every day. However, my family is the best support system. I'm currently in the middle of trying to find a job after graduation, which might be the biggest obstacle I've faced to date. My family is nothing but helpful during this stressful time. They have made copies of my resume and writing samples, helped me network, and countless other kind acts.”

Personal Philosophy, Community Service and People You Want to Surround Yourself With

What is Brennan's personal philosophy? The University of Tennessee alumna said, “The harder you try, the luckier you get.”

The future attorney talked about what she believes holds more truth in light of her personal philosophy. Was it fate or choice? She explained, “Choice, definitely. Everything we do is in our control. If something isn't going your way, you can make change that makes it happen.”

Brennan also talked about how passionate she is about community service. “I have completed hours upon hours of community service over the past several years of my life. My passion for community service began when I joined a community service sorority in college. By working with organizations like Ronald McDonald House and Salvation Army, I got to see the difference I was making firsthand. I've loved volunteering my time ever since.”

What kind of situations and people is Brennan attracted to? What kind of situations and people does the law student avoid? She said, “I'm attracted to people who take their work seriously, but are not so caught up in the stress that they become negative.” As for situations and people to avoid, Brennan revealed, “I tend to avoid people who are very negative. I believe that a positive attitude is crucial to success.”

Legal Role Model and Favorite Quote

Brennan admires Sandra Day O'Connor, a retired United States Supreme Court justice who served as an Associate Justice from 1981 until her retirement in 2006. She respects O'Connor because she was the first woman to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court. Brennan also respects O'Connor because she broke into the legal field during a time where women were stereotyped. O'Connor paved a path and became a role model for women in the legal field. Brennan said, “I would like to do the same and make a name for myself.”

Brennan's favorite quote is by Albert Einstein: “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” She believes that the quote is a reminder that if there is something going wrong, then you need to change and fix your mistakes. Don't ignore what's going on in your life.

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