After law school, Andrew married his wife, Lianna, and returned to the Ann Arbor area. The couple has two children, two massive dogs (a Great Dane and St. Bernard), a cat, four lizards and a turtle.
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Residence: Pinckney
What advice do you have for someone considering law school? Make sure the practice of law is something you truly want to do. It is a lot of work, the examination is tough, clients are demanding and making a career out of it can be very competitive.
Favorite local hangouts: Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina off of Platt Road. Fantastic draft selection!
What would surprise people about your job? That preparing for a trial or hearing is a lot of work if you want it to go well. It’s not like a T.V. show where a case comes in and you head right into a courtroom and blow everyone away with your rhetoric.
What do you wish someone would invent? Another lane on US-23 North. It would only have to be operational between the hours of 5:00 and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
What has been your favorite year so far and why? I have two – 2012 and 2014, the years my two children were born (I had to give them the shout out . . .).
Why did you become a lawyer? I took a Roman law class as an undergrad at the University of Michigan. It was one of the few classes that I had a pretty intrinsic grasp on, and I really enjoyed it. Perhaps more importantly, my calculus and organic chemistry grades were not all that promising!
What’s your favorite law-related TV show, movie, and/or book? “Suits” (the first two seasons, really). I really enjoy how the attorneys have some brilliant, crazy, long-shot idea in one scene; in the next, the case has settled for millions and everyone is celebrating the win.
Who are your law role models – real and/or fictional? Probably Clarence Darrow. The focus and zeal he dedicated to his clients and cases was simply tremendous.
If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would that be? The President. I really, really . . . really want to see what’s going on inside Area 51.
What’s the most awe-inspiring place you’ve ever been? Rome. After deciding engineering wasn’t for me, I majored in Classical Studies. Seeing some of the art and architecture up close and personal was simply amazing.
What did you do last weekend? Played with the kids . . . and got donuts. It truly astounds me how much energy a two year-old can have, especially loaded up on sugar. I wouldn’t trade it for anything though, they are absolutely hilarious!
What would you say to your 16-year-old self? Spend more time with the family.
What’s your proudest moment as a lawyer? We had a client who was charged with a very serious offense. We truly believed in his innocence and our entire office fought for him. Unfortunately, the jury came back with a guilty verdict on one of the lesser offenses. However, we were able to convince the Court of his innocence and our client was sentenced to only a year in jail. While it was a loss in a sense, we were all tremendously proud of what we were able to accomplish considering the alternatives.
What do you do to relax? Martial arts – right now I am training in jujutsu, judo and iaido (Japanese swordsmanship). They’re a great workout and stress relievers.
What’s one thing you would like to learn to do? I’d like to learn to play the guitar WELL. I tinker with it on and off, but to find the time and really learn keeps eluding me.
What is something most people don't know about you? I cried a bit when the dragon died in that 90s movie, “Dragonheart.” Yes, I still remember it.
Favorite place to spend money: Amazon.com!
Which living person do you most admire? I don’t say it enough, but my wife. Taking care of two children with the patience and care she gives them is unbelievable.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? I think it was a number of things all rolling into a couple of months. The year I took my bar exam, I had to take two summer courses to get the credits I needed, got married about a month before the exam, moved, and still managed to pass! It was a crazy summer.
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