One year ago, TWWHB proudly welcomed a new associate attorney to the firm: Blake A. Radford.  Like our partners, Phillip Warren and Keith Weidner, Blake also served in the U.S.M.C.  He also worked with the firm in years past as a paralegal.  Building on his honor, commitment, and experience serving clients as a paralegal, in 2020 Blake decided to take his career to a new level by going to law school.  In 2023, Blake graduated from Stetson University College of Law, passed the Florida Bar Exam, and gained admittance to the Florida State Bar.  It was a big year for Blake, as was 2024. 

In the year that has passed at TWWHB, Blake has assisted numerous clients—from intake to settlement to resolution of their claim—and has learned many lessons along the way.  Blake has helped to draft critical briefs and motions for our clients.  He has appeared and argued before our local judges, taken and defended depositions, and played a crucial role in mediations resulting in favorable outcomes for our clients.  It has been a pleasure to watch Blake's confidence and creativity grow as he continues to learn the nuances of Florida's ever-changing laws and find his own persuasive style.  In honor of his one-year anniversary, we asked Blake to answer a few interesting questions about his first year in practice.  Please join us in congratulating Blake on an exciting first year of growth at the firm. 

1.  What was the most surprising or unexpected thing you discovered about the practice once you began? 

The fact that trials last weeks rather than the few hours the TV shows suggest! Kidding. I was a paralegal before, so there wasn't a lot that surprised me in terms of what goes into representing your clients, but the weight was something different. All of a sudden you're the one they're asking for. You're the one scheduled for phone calls. You're calling opposing counsel. You're at the hearings. You can know the case, the words to say, the arguments to make, all of that. But the weight of someone's peace of mind is on your shoulders, and I don't think you can ever prepare for that until you're in it.

2.  What have you found, in your first year, to be the most challenging part of practicing law? 

Turning off my brain. You get into these cases, with these wonderful clients, who are having to live through things every hour of the day, and you just want to go, go, go. But you need to give your brain that break to rest and come back refreshed. I'll find myself looking at case files after dinner and just telling myself I need to turn it off and relax so I can come back better. It's not always easy to do.

3.  What is the thing you have discovered you want to work and improve on the most? 

That's a long list, so I'll pick the one I think is most unique. Refining my style and being comfortable with it. My mentors have always told me that it'll grow over time, and I feel it starting to form. I find when I can apply their wisdom to what I naturally want to present as, the results come quicker, and arguments feel more natural. But it takes time, and confidence in what I'm doing. 

4.  What was your most rewarding experience? 

Blame it on the south or the Marines, or both, but I call almost everyone Sir or Ma'am. I had this wonderful client who had asked me to just call him by his first name. I told him that would be difficult because it's programmed into me to say Sir. So, we made a deal, I promised that on the day his case was over I'd call him by his first name. I remember calling and I used his first name, and before I could get anything else out, he shouted with joy and said “It's finally over?” It was the best feeling in the world. To give that family peace of mind and that conclusion after so many years of worry. On my next call with him for admin purposes I did go right back to Sir, though.

5.  What was your most embarrassing experience? 

It was one of my first cases I was taking charge of. I got all prepped for a call with the client. We were going to go over strategy, where we were at. I learned the file front and back. I called them, and it was a fantastic call. They understood everything, asked their questions. I was feeling great. We get to the end of the call, about 30 minutes in, and they say “Well thank you so much for calling us and taking the time. We just have one question. Who are you?” Turns out I forgot to introduce myself…that crushed my excitement pretty fast.

6.  If there was one thing you could tell your one-year-ago self about his future, what would it be? 

Have confidence. You are going to make mistakes, but you have mentors there to guide you. You aren't going to know everything, but you know where to look to learn. You won't win every fight, but you'll win more than you expect. You've done a lot in your life that gives you experience, and the people you have looking out for you know what you can do better than you do. Trust them, trust yourself, and you'll go far kid.  (Also turning 30 isn't entirely bad.)

7.  What did you find you simply HAVE to have to get going for the day?  

A cup of coffee. Caffeine is life blood for someone who isn't naturally a morning person but is in a career where the morning is the time when things get done.

8.  What are your top goals for year two? 

This is a hard one. As a career, there are a lot of things that I want to do, as a new attorney. However, at the end of the day those things would take time that my clients don't currently have to wait, and I wouldn't wish that for them. So instead I think I'll say this. I want more of those first-name phone calls that I had this year.  Let's say double the amount. I would like to double the people to which I can help give that peace of mind. And I would like to get to that goal by taking all the opportunities that come at me to accomplish it.