Getting to Know: Brandy L. VanDenbrook

Attorney Brandy L. VanDenbrook received her Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law, where she participated on the nationally ranked Arbitration team, became a certified civil facilitative mediator and was a Trustee Scholar.

During her time in law school, VanDenbrook worked at the Michigan State House of Representatives as a policy analyst, volunteer mediated for a variety of courts and worked as a law clerk with the Michigan State Police Troopers Association (MSPTA).

Since graduation, she has passed both the Michigan and New York bar exams.

VanDenbrook began working with the MSPTA in her third year of law school; and after passing the Michigan bar, became the Assistant General Counsel for the MSPTA. She continues to work with the MSPTA, primarily handling disability cases for MSP Troopers injured in the line of duty.

A resident of Pinckney, VanDenbrook joined Valkyrie Law PLLC last year, focusing on Alternative Dispute Resolution, including arbitration, mediation and negotiation, as well as small business law, family law, contract law, labor law and employment law. VanDenbrook stays active in her community by selling real estate with Keller Williams, volunteering as a mediator for the Resolution Services Center of Michigan, volunteering as a judge in ABA competitions and participating in events with the Washtenaw County Bar Association.

By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News

Why did you become a lawyer? From a really young age I always believed in fairness and justice, and law seemed like a career that could help me bring those ideals to the rest of the world.

What advice do you have for someone considering law school? Make sure it’s something that you really want to do and have passion for. It’ll be hard, but if you really love law then it’ll be worth it.

What are your proudest moments as a lawyer? The moments I’ve won cases for State Troopers suffering from on-duty disabilities, particularly those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

What’s your favorite law-related TV show or movie? I avoid watching law-related shows and movies. They always seem to get it wrong somehow.

Who are your role models? My mom, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Amal Clooney.

If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would that be? Kate Middleton, to see what living like a royal is like.

What do you do to relax? High intensity interval training, hanging with my pups and vegan baking.
What other career path might you have chosen? Journalism or acting — sometimes I have a flair for the dramatics.

Favorite hangouts? Greenspace Café in Ferndale, The Wooden Spoon in Brighton, Barrio in Plymouth and anywhere with good cupcakes.

Favorite websites? Pinterest and my law firm’s website, because it took a lot of work to create.

Favorite app? Instagram.

Favorite music? Alternative rock.

What is your happiest childhood memory? Christmas time with my family. I loved having big Christmas dinners, baking with my mom and grandma, watching movies as a family, and opening up presents with my sister.

What is your most treasured item? My little border collie pup, Riley, is one thing my heart couldn’t live without.

What do you wish someone would invent? A teleportation machine.

What has been your favorite year so far and why? A tie between 2017 and 2018. In 2017, I graduated law school, passed the Michigan Bar, and had a huge sense of accomplishment. In 2018, I passed the New York bar, traveled to six different countries and started my own law firm. Those two years have brought me a lot of self-growth.

What’s the most awe-inspiring place you’ve been? Japan and Santa Margherita Ligure in Italy.

If you could have one super power, what would it be? The ability to heal people.

What’s one thing you would like to learn to do? Speak multiple languages.

What is something most people don't know about you? I’m also a licensed real estate agent.

What’s the best advice you ever received? To listen twice as much as I speak; and that one of the greatest stumbling blocks to achieving great success is that people cannot get their heads around how obvious and uncomplicated success can be.

Name an unusual event you’ve enjoyed: Going to Japan to a traditional Japanese wedding. It was a unique and enjoyable cultural experience.