Meet Leah Duncan | Attorney

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leah Duncan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leah, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
One of the most important things I have done as a parent is to show my son that he never has to become a statistic regardless of his past, and he can be anything or do anything he sets his mind to. One of my biggest missions in life is to show my son by my actions to never give up, always go after his dreams, be true to himself, keep his integrity no matter what, and to not fall into the trap of comparison.

When my son was an infant, I did not have my bachelor’s degree yet and was completely lost on what I wanted to do with my future. I made decisions in life that made my circumstances more difficult. I could not blame others for those mistakes, and I also could not continue to stay in that place of being unsuccessful. I had to show my son that you can always push forward. If I had stopped at comparisons, by looking at how successful others around me were, I would have lost track and focus on what MY path was. Every day I was in competition with the woman I was the day before instead of comparing myself to everyone around me. My son was my motivation and the reason for my dedication. My path was supposed to look different and not be the same as everyone else’s.

Even when I made the decision to press forward, society attempted to force me to give up. When I first had my son, initially, I was only working one job. As any parent can appreciate, or cry silently about deep down inside, kids are expensive. The expense of a child does not stop either. At first, I was not able to make ends meet, and my son was on Medicaid. I earned a small raise at the job I was working at which disqualified me from my son continuing to receive any government assistance. In fact, my case worker told me to quit my job so I could receive additional government assistance, such as food stamps and section 8. This appeared to be the path of least resistance and easier. Instead, I started two more jobs and even walked door to door selling electricity with my newborn baby by my side to make ends meet. I would lay in bed at nighttime with tears coming down my face from exhaustion wondering if earning a bachelor’s degree was even worth it.

I decided to break generational curses and provided my son a pathway to not have to be a first-generation child to earn a bachelor’s degree. By the time I graduated, most of the friends I began college with were successful in their careers, while I was just finishing college. After earning my bachelor’s degree, I decided to go to law school. I still had to work full time to provide for my son and I, while attending law school in the evenings. It wasn’t until 2021, when I was thirty-three years old, that I earned my juris doctorate. From 2006 (when I graduated high school) until 2021 (when I graduated law school), I could have given up so many times. Many trials and tribulations came my way, but I had the tenacity to never give up.

Now I am an attorney at a law firm that affords me the opportunity to be an entrepreneur by hustling to get my own clients and work on matters I truly love. My son is eleven now and even though I still have days that are beyond difficult I continue to press forward so my son can learn from my actions that he can do anything he wants to in life despite the odds being against him. It is the best feeling in the world to know that I can look my son in the eyes and tell him confidently that I do not regret my mistakes in life because they led me down the path I was supposed to be on with him.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I work at the Gibson Law Group, P.C. I practice real estate and business law as an associate attorney. I am most proud that my clients trust me and continue to return for me to assist them with various matters. When I hear clients state that they could not have closed a certain deal without me, it is the best feeling. I feel as if I am making a difference in the world and helping them grow their businesses. The way I view it is that by me loving the business I am in and assisting my clients, I am assisting them with their businesses, which in turn makes the world a better place for everyone. I am most honored when I get a call from a potential new client who told me I was highly recommended to them by one of my existing clients. Many people view attorneys as individuals who only care about money; however, I genuinely care about my clients and their success. If a cost analysis makes it clear that it is not worth my client’s money to pay me for my services, I am honest and transparent with them. I always do my best to look out for my client’s best interests.

At a previous firm I worked at, a client wrote an unsolicited review about me on google stating in part, “she (meaning me) proved to be very smart, patient, kind, and empathetic. I was in great hands with her and she always made time to answer my incessant questions and concerns.” When working with clients, I always try to put myself in their shoes and treat their matter as if it is my own.

I have learned along the way that one of the most important factors in business is having open communication with clients. Many times, it is better to under promise and over deliver than over promise and under deliver.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
It would depend on which best friend was visiting me. I would make sure that the itinerary was based upon things that he or she was interested in. For example, if it was a friend who loved sports, I would take them to a sports game or to Texas Live in Arlington, Texas to watch a game. If it was a friend who loved to play games, I would take him or her to one of my newest favorite places called Bowl Games, which is part football, part bowling, and part cornhole. If it was a friend who loved food, I would take him or her to my favorite restaurants around the DFW area. If it was a friend who loved health and fitness, I would take him or her to work out with two of my trainers (one who trains me in the weight room and the other who trains me in boxing) and then to Manna Juice Bar which is an organic, cold-pressed juice.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not have been able to survive everything I have gone through without God, my family, and my son. It takes a village.

Website: https://gibsonlawgroup.com/our-team/leah-duncan/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-duncan-571b9a151/

Image Credits
Aneshea Shali Photography