Toledo native Amy Parker, a former legal assistant and paralegal, is now an attorney at the personal injury law firm of Muth Law in Ann Arbor.
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Amy Parker was first introduced to Lady Justice by helping prison inmates, while earning her undergrad degree in Law and Social Thought from the University of Toledo.
“I’ve always been interested in the law, and in the social side, specifically the impact law has on a society, and this study area really encapsulates that,” says Parker, now an attorney at Muth Law in Ann Arbor.
“One of the best things was a program called Inside Out where students from UT would go to the Toledo Correctional Facility and have classes with inmates—or ‘inside students’ as we called them. That experience was very eye-opening and pushed me further into my decision to pursue law as a career.”
After graduation, Parker worked as a legal assistant at Soble, Rowe, and Krichbaum—and was promoted to paralegal after earning her post-baccalaureate paralegal certificate from UT.
“I enjoyed being the go-to person for clients and be a listening ear,” she says. “Being a legal assistant helped me understand the complexities of the legal profession.
“Then I wanted to delve deeper into the legal world and take on more responsibilities at my workplace. I also thought it would be beneficial to get my paralegal certificate because I knew I wanted to pursue law school someday and I thought this would be a good stepping stone.”
Parker had set her sights on a career as an attorney as early as third grade.
“According to my mom that’s all I ever said to the question, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up,’” she says. “I think my background helps me understand all that goes into a case from start to finish and how everyone—clients, support staff, and attorneys—all impact a case and its outcome. I think it’s also helped me know how to do things that sometimes attorneys don’t know how to do. I know how to do a lot of legwork in cases to make an impact.”
Parker went on to earn her JD from the University of Toledo College of Law, during which she clerked at the Law Office of Afaf Vicky Farah in Ann Arbor, a practice focused on immigration and nationality law.
“It opened my eyes to how differing administrations can impact immigration work in a big way since the law is constantly changing depending on who is in office, and it can either make your job harder or easier,” she says. “It helped me understand the struggles of those trying to immigrate to this country as even doing it the ‘legal’ way isn’t easy.”
After her 1L year, Parker worked at the Law Offices of David S. Steingold in Detroit, her first introduction to criminal defense work.
“I learned so much from David and his associate, Samantha Baker,” she says. “David showed me the ins and outs of criminal defense cases, and he was always open to answering and explaining any and all questions I had.”
Parker had the opportunity to work on a case involving the Michigan Department of Corrections and the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility.
“It was very impactful as I was the primary contact for many of the people signing up for the class,” she says. “David helped me understand that it’s important for everyone—even people who are guilty—to have representation and an advocate.”
After graduation, Parker worked at The Law Office of Levy and Levy, LLC, a family law firm in Toledo. She later joined Stimpson & Associates, P.C., a family law firm in Tecumseh, initially as a law clerk and as an attorney after passing the bar.
“I enjoyed being able to speak with clients daily and learn about their cases—and be able to make an impact on people’s lives when they were going through one of the toughest times in their lives,” she says. “I learned the importance of being an advocate for your client and helping them navigate what was in their best interests even if they didn’t recognize that, in that moment.”
Parker joined Muth Law in earlier this year, and appreciates the team-focused approach and atmosphere, and her introduction to personal injury law.
“Everyone on the team is very involved in all of our cases and is able to provide their opinion on cases,” she says. “Each case is very different, and I feel I’m learning something new with each case. I enjoy helping people who’ve been injured, and making a difference during a difficult time.”
The ‘Buckeye’ native from Toledo has nevertheless found a welcome in The Great Lakes State.
“I remember my first time coming to Ann Arbor in undergrad for a conference and I loved how Ann Arbor seemed to be so lively while also feeling welcoming like a small town at the same time,” she says. “Since that first visit, I always thought I wanted to work in this area, so I’m happy and excited to have the opportunity to do so.”
Parker and her fiancé own a home in Milan, south of Ann Arbor, sharing it with mini dachshunds, Allie and Gus, and often hosting family gatherings.
In her leisure time, Parker enjoys reading, gardening, working out, and spending time with friends and family. She and her older brother and younger sister were raised by a single mother, an elementary school teacher for over 30 years.
Reading and learning about politics, both national and international, is another interest.
“There was a time I wanted to pursue international law—maybe someday.,” she says
“I think it’s important to keep yourself informed on the state of the world and now it’s easier than ever to do so given all the resources available.”
Legal News
Amy Parker was first introduced to Lady Justice by helping prison inmates, while earning her undergrad degree in Law and Social Thought from the University of Toledo.
“I’ve always been interested in the law, and in the social side, specifically the impact law has on a society, and this study area really encapsulates that,” says Parker, now an attorney at Muth Law in Ann Arbor.
“One of the best things was a program called Inside Out where students from UT would go to the Toledo Correctional Facility and have classes with inmates—or ‘inside students’ as we called them. That experience was very eye-opening and pushed me further into my decision to pursue law as a career.”
After graduation, Parker worked as a legal assistant at Soble, Rowe, and Krichbaum—and was promoted to paralegal after earning her post-baccalaureate paralegal certificate from UT.
“I enjoyed being the go-to person for clients and be a listening ear,” she says. “Being a legal assistant helped me understand the complexities of the legal profession.
“Then I wanted to delve deeper into the legal world and take on more responsibilities at my workplace. I also thought it would be beneficial to get my paralegal certificate because I knew I wanted to pursue law school someday and I thought this would be a good stepping stone.”
Parker had set her sights on a career as an attorney as early as third grade.
“According to my mom that’s all I ever said to the question, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up,’” she says. “I think my background helps me understand all that goes into a case from start to finish and how everyone—clients, support staff, and attorneys—all impact a case and its outcome. I think it’s also helped me know how to do things that sometimes attorneys don’t know how to do. I know how to do a lot of legwork in cases to make an impact.”
Parker went on to earn her JD from the University of Toledo College of Law, during which she clerked at the Law Office of Afaf Vicky Farah in Ann Arbor, a practice focused on immigration and nationality law.
“It opened my eyes to how differing administrations can impact immigration work in a big way since the law is constantly changing depending on who is in office, and it can either make your job harder or easier,” she says. “It helped me understand the struggles of those trying to immigrate to this country as even doing it the ‘legal’ way isn’t easy.”
After her 1L year, Parker worked at the Law Offices of David S. Steingold in Detroit, her first introduction to criminal defense work.
“I learned so much from David and his associate, Samantha Baker,” she says. “David showed me the ins and outs of criminal defense cases, and he was always open to answering and explaining any and all questions I had.”
Parker had the opportunity to work on a case involving the Michigan Department of Corrections and the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility.
“It was very impactful as I was the primary contact for many of the people signing up for the class,” she says. “David helped me understand that it’s important for everyone—even people who are guilty—to have representation and an advocate.”
After graduation, Parker worked at The Law Office of Levy and Levy, LLC, a family law firm in Toledo. She later joined Stimpson & Associates, P.C., a family law firm in Tecumseh, initially as a law clerk and as an attorney after passing the bar.
“I enjoyed being able to speak with clients daily and learn about their cases—and be able to make an impact on people’s lives when they were going through one of the toughest times in their lives,” she says. “I learned the importance of being an advocate for your client and helping them navigate what was in their best interests even if they didn’t recognize that, in that moment.”
Parker joined Muth Law in earlier this year, and appreciates the team-focused approach and atmosphere, and her introduction to personal injury law.
“Everyone on the team is very involved in all of our cases and is able to provide their opinion on cases,” she says. “Each case is very different, and I feel I’m learning something new with each case. I enjoy helping people who’ve been injured, and making a difference during a difficult time.”
The ‘Buckeye’ native from Toledo has nevertheless found a welcome in The Great Lakes State.
“I remember my first time coming to Ann Arbor in undergrad for a conference and I loved how Ann Arbor seemed to be so lively while also feeling welcoming like a small town at the same time,” she says. “Since that first visit, I always thought I wanted to work in this area, so I’m happy and excited to have the opportunity to do so.”
Parker and her fiancé own a home in Milan, south of Ann Arbor, sharing it with mini dachshunds, Allie and Gus, and often hosting family gatherings.
In her leisure time, Parker enjoys reading, gardening, working out, and spending time with friends and family. She and her older brother and younger sister were raised by a single mother, an elementary school teacher for over 30 years.
Reading and learning about politics, both national and international, is another interest.
“There was a time I wanted to pursue international law—maybe someday.,” she says
“I think it’s important to keep yourself informed on the state of the world and now it’s easier than ever to do so given all the resources available.”
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