BIRMINGHAM, AL – When most people think of lawyers, they often envision a charming small-town attorney or a character like Better Call Saul—someone who glides through law school, effortlessly passes the bar, and strides into courtrooms with confidence and style. 

The reality, however, is far more challenging and demanding.

Haley Harries, the newest Personal Injury Attorney at Wettermark Keith, said that law school was a long, fulfilling ride that prepared her to take on the task of helping people in need but she is glad it’s behind her.

“It almost doesn’t feel real, I feel like I’m missing studying or some kind of class work to do,” Harries said. “Coming up in the fall I’m going to try and do more and get out but right now I’m just trying to get rested.”

Harries journey to become a lawyer began with a decision in 2020 to go to law school. After starting class, she secured an interview with a local law firm and started work as a legal assistant. It was there she fell in love with personal injury and made the decision to stick with it. The reason she loves personal injury so much is simple: she gets to help people.

“I’ve always wanted to help people, and I knew being a lawyer would be a great role to be able to expand on that. Personal injury sees people that are really hurt, and none of it is their fault. So, it’s seeing these people that are injured and wanting to get them as much help as I can for their injury.”

Harries took the bar in February 2024 and then the wait began. Shortly after, she joined Wettermark Keith as a paralegal. Then in April, Harries got the good news: she passed the bar and her title was about to change. 

Before she took the big test, her confidence level sat somewhere between nonexistent and just glad it was done. 

“You never feel great. That test is huge and it's hard. I knew I did my best, and it's worked out for me before,” Harries said. “That's where I put my confidence, that I did everything I could.”

Law school was an experience she has trouble describing. It wasn’t like regular college, and the expectations were much, much higher.

“You have a pretty high standard. The biggest thing that helped me grow was the Socratic method, where they called on you and you were expected to know a lot every single class. It was a lot of pressure,” Harries said. “You grow into this person who is kind of not afraid and you are more confident in what you know.”

Her advice for those looking to attend law school? Keep your self-standard high and never let that slip.

“I think the biggest thing is putting pressure on yourself to do the best that you can. You have to be confident and pour into what you study. As long as you’re confident, that carries a lot of weight as long as you put in the work to study as well. You have to put yourself into other students' surroundings,” Harries said. “We’re not going to know everything, but becoming comfortable and confident that I know what I’m talking about but I might get something wrong and it’s still okay.”

As for her own study notes during law school, she wrote everything by hand. By the end of each semester, Harries estimates she filled three entire notebooks up per class.

Through all the hand cramps and broken pieces of pencil lead spread out across her notebooks, the journey was worth it and she is excited to get started helping people at Wettermark Keith.

To celebrate becoming a lawyer, she treated herself to tickets to the Iron Bowl in November. She’ll be rooting for Alabama to take the win and is excited to report back with first hand knowledge on Kalen DeBoer’s first Iron Bowl performance with the Tide. 

If DeBoer has even half the number of notebooks filled with notes as Harries does, there's a good chance the Tide just might have what it takes to win.