As one of the first attorneys at our Indianapolis branch, there is never a typical day in the office for Mandy Grace. Mandy’s immense knowledge of the law and empathetic presence is an asset to all who know and work with her.
At 20 years old with a young daughter, Mandy was attending school part time and balancing her general education requirements with the demands of parenthood.
However, Mandy was determined to finish her education to provide the best life possible for her daughter. She spoke to an advisor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) about her options going forward. She learned that with plenty of general education requirements already under her belt, she was close to a liberal arts degree. The advisor noted, however, that as Mandy needed to work during the day to provide for her family, finishing the degree looked unlikely due to the available courses.
Famous last words.
Mandy proved everyone wrong and completed her bachelor’s in English with a concentration in writing and literacy with a Legal Studies minor in just over two years. It takes most students four.
But Mandy wasn’t done yet.
After graduation, Mandy began working as a case manager at another personal injury firm and knew this area of law was the career for her. She loved being a source of support for clients during one of the most difficult times of their lives.
She felt proud to use her education to get each client back into a position of success with the compensation they deserve.
While moving up the ranks to paralegal, her interest in law only continued to blossom and Mandy applied at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law on the IUPUI campus. She knew she wanted to build her career in state and the school’s flexible evening program would allow Mandy to continue to work to support her daughter while earning her Juris Doctor degree.
No other schools offered this option, so it was her only shot.
It’s no surprise to those who know Mandy that she was accepted, and the rest is history.
Mandy now belongs to the Indiana State Bar Association and the Indianapolis Bar Association. She also has bar admissions to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana and the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana.
During her graduate studies, Mandy met her now husband who proposed to her in downtown Indianapolis after a Band of Horses concert. Mandy notes that the couple walked to the Circle of Lights at the Soldiers & Sailors Monument and, just as snow started to fall, he asked. She loves live music and collects a t-shirt with the list of tour dates from most shows, so she has a precious memory with the printed date of their engagement.
Mandy’s daughter is now a thriving teenager and the couple also have a young son at home now, too. They enjoy spending time together as a family and doing fun things like going to the zoo, the museum, or the park.
Mandy also enjoys strength training and can currently squat 130 pounds, although we are sure that record won’t stand for long. She’s also very into true crime podcasts and loves listening to them on her commute. If you need any podcast recommendations, don’t be afraid to ask.
