From Fashion to Law: Heather Edwards

"It simply happened by chance," admits Edwards. "I needed a part-time job while attending college and applied for a position as a part-time receptionist at a probate law firm in Encino, CA, Cappadona & Oldman, now Oldman, Cooley, Sallus, Gold, Birnberg & Coleman, LLP ."

For a year Edwards attended the University of California — Irvine before attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. There, she received her A.A. in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing. She continued her education at California State University — Northridge (CSUN) and graduated in 1991 with a B.S. in the same field. During her time at CSUN, Edwards began working at Oldman.


"The hours allowed me to work in the morning and attend classes in the afternoon and evening. I had always worked in retail and never in an office setting at all," says Edwards. "I started out as a receptionist, and my first day on the job, I was trained for about an hour and then left alone to brave the phones alone for a prominent law firm. Talk about being thrown into a den of lions!"

However, Edwards credits head secretary Fay Dayharsh and senior partner Marshal Oldman as two employers who aided her in her newfound journey: Oldman, she says, granted her "the opportunity to learn how to be a legal secretary in an industry where [she] had no prior knowledge," while Dayharsh trained her "day in and out and gave [her] the knowledge to advance [her] career as a legal secretary."

Despite their assistance, Edwards admits, "it was [still] a challenge." Nevertheless, she thrived where she was, grew her passion for the law, and a few months after starting work at Oldman, accepted an offer to serve as an assistant legal secretary for the senior partner in the firm.

And it was then that she adopted law as her new career.

Immediately, Edwards became involved in the legal field. She joined and participated in the San Fernando Valley Legal Secretaries Association, a part of Legal Secretaries Incorporated (LSI), a not-for-profit California organization committed to educating legal professionals.

"I held numerous positions at the local level, including presidency from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2000," she says. "I became more active at the state level. I was appointed by then LSI president Deanne A. Pepe, CCLS, PLS, as one of six legal specialization leaders appointed to lead in six different areas of law, which are litigation, law office administration, probate and estate planning, criminal law, family law, and transactional law. I was a probate and estate planning legal specialization section leader from 1996 to 1997."

"My job was to obtain speakers for probate and estate planning educational workshops held at quarterly and annual LSI conferences in different parts of California," continues Edwards. "I was then appointed again to this position by then LSI president Kay J. Thornburg and held that position from 2002 to 2004."

Edwards later became the LSI legal specialization sections coordinator from 2004 to 2006 and public relations director of LSI.

"My participation in these voluntary positions has proved invaluable to me," she says. "Not just for my own continuing legal education as a legal professional, but it has given me leadership and organizational qualities. It has given me the ability to meet so many wonderful people throughout...California who I can call or email any time with legal-related or procedural questions in other counties, and I'll have an answer. The networking benefits alone are invaluable."

In 2000 Edwards joined Alpert, Barr & Grant, APLC, located in Encino, CA. Currently, she is the executive legal assistant to founding principal and shareholder Lee Kanon Alpert. Alpert, whom she describes as "not just an attorney [but a]...key figure in the legal community in the San Fernando Valley," has greatly influenced Edwards and her career.

"I have learned so much from Lee with all that he does as an attorney and all that he gives back to the community, something he really believes in," says Edwards. "I look up to Lee and commend him for all his great accomplishments and by making a difference in the lives he touches."

The firm provides a myriad of services in the areas of administrative and government relations; arbitration and meditation; bankruptcy/creditors' rights; business/corporate/real estate transactions; estate planning, trust administration, and taxation; insurance defense; and more. And according to its website, "Alpert, Barr & Grant is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating awarded to law firms for professional excellence and integrity."

Edwards's excitement for the legal field is almost palpable as she describes her most memorable accomplishment: receiving the 2005-2006 LSI President's Award for superior leadership as LSI legal specialization section coordinator.

Q. What do you do for fun?

A. When I'm not running around with my four children, I run around the basketball court with my "moms league" team, Rock Pile.

Q. What CD is in your CD player right now, or what music is on your iPod?

A. Chris Daughtry, Alicia Keys, the Wicked soundtrack.

Q. What is the last magazine you read?

A. Vanity Fair, December issue; Cookie Magazine, December issue; and The Legal Secretary Magazine, November issue.

Q. What is your favorite TV show?

A. Dancing with the Stars! I wish I could dance like that!

Q. Who is your role model?

A. My late grandmother. Her grace and style were impeccable. She was the most accepting and giving person I've ever known.

However, her excitement has come coupled with challenges. During her time volunteering Edwards was pregnant with her fourth child. She was "juggling [her] legal career, [her] home career (being Mom), and her leadership duties of leading six women who provided both members and non-members of the organization with quarterly educational workshops."

"There were many challenges that year with both educational speakers and venue location issues. Some members of our legal specialization section team were dealing with health and family issues. It was, at times, a bit rocky," she admits. "[B]ut through it all, everyone came together as a team and turned what could have been a mess into a very successful year. Teamwork made it happen."

As a young fashion student, Edwards took a part-time job in law and turned it into a lifelong career. Her excitement for the law and her perseverance to succeed shot her to the top of her field. It's no wonder her mantra is "The sky is the limit! If you dream it, you can achieve it."

And to young professionals eager to begin their careers, Edwards offers this:

"Hard work and persistence pays off. Put yourself out there. Get involved in every aspect of your career. Volunteer. Give back to the community. Go that extra mile. I guarantee that you will reap the benefits."