Margaret Dodson spotlight1. Tell us about your practice.

In my first year as a Litigation Associate at Bass, Berry & Sims, I have been fortunate to have worked on a diverse set of matters ranging from consumer financial services class action defense to SEC and DOJ government investigations and everything in between. As a member of the Securities & Shareholder Litigation Group, I also get to work with my colleagues in the corporate department on a variety of corporate governance topics, advising on issues from director deadlock to third-party consent rights. One of the things I love about my practice at this stage in my career is that my practice looks different every single day. 

2. Why did you choose to pursue a career in the legal field?

I have multiple generations of lawyers on both sides of my family. My parents actually practice together here in Nashville, and have for my entire life. For them, the practice of law is a vocation. They love their practice, and I could always tell what they did for clients really mattered. So, my decision to enter the legal field may have seemed like a foregone conclusion. I did fight fate for a while – I spent several years after college working in public and legislative affairs for a telecommunications company in Washington, D.C. While I was there, the company attempted a merger with a competitor that ultimately failed for antitrust reasons. I was so frustrated, because my team had worked really hard, and had executed really well. I realized that the next time I worked that hard on something, win or lose, I wanted it to matter, and to be sure it mattered, I needed to go into law. So I submitted to my fate and realized my parents had been onto something all along. 

3. You recently finished your first year as an associate at Bass, Berry & Sims. What piece of advice would you give to an incoming first year associate?

Be thorough and polished. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and use the resources available to you – the firm has an array of assets that will help you succeed.