RISING STAR: AMANDA PORTERFIELD ESQ

Amanda Porterfield Esq.

ES Gallon & Associates

Wife, mother, attorney, trivia expert— these are just a few of the hats worn by this month’s Rising Star, Amanda Porterfield. While Amanda is not one to brag or boast about her accomplishments, her career trajectory thus far is certainly something to be proud of and worth celebrating.

Amanda knew from an early age that she wanted to be a lawyer. She never shied away from an argument and enjoyed helping others, making a career in the legal field a no-brainer. As she matured, her desire to help others intensified, leading her to study Sociology at Indiana University Bloomington. She later enrolled at the University of Dayton School of Law where she earned her Juris Doctorate in 2012. While in law school, Amanda had her eyes set on family law and had every intention to practice as a public defender working primarily with children and young adults. Her internship at the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office handling child support reduction cases enhanced her desire to pursue a career in public interest law. As she would soon learn upon graduating, staying open and flexible goes a long way in this profession.

Amanda began her career doing document review and later worked as a research attorney at LexisNexis which is what exposed her to labor and employment law, specifically workers compensation issues. While at LexisNexis, she worked extensively with attorneys in California helping them navigate the state’s workers compensation system. Because California’s system parallels Ohio’s system, Amanda was inadvertently becoming an expert in the field. She enjoyed this work so much that she later transitioned to working with Ohio’s Bureau of Workers Compensation as a claim service specialist. Amanda leaned on a trusted mentor, explaining her desire to want to practice full-time in this area, which led to her work at E.S. Gallon & Associates where she handled the bulk of the firm’s workers compensation cases and other related administrative cases. Due to her growing expertise in this area, Amanda has recently transitioned roles and now serves as hearing officer for the Industrial Commission of Ohio where she works in a quasi-administrative law judge capacity hearing the very cases she has spent her career handling.

Amanda would not be in the role she is in today or have experienced these dynamic career shifts had she been rigid in her goals and vision for herself as a law student and new attorney. She encourages all students and new attorneys to remain open to all the different areas of law and to take courses that might not fit in their initial vision for themselves. Exposing yourself to new experiences and opportunities may reveal strengths and talents that you never knew you had and those talents may lead you in directions you otherwise would not have explored. Amanda also emphasized the importance of networking and nurturing professional relationships. Many of her professional advancements would not have been possible had it not been for the assistance and guidance of her closest mentors and professional allies. Amanda is proof that no matter what stage you are in in your career, staying flexible and adaptable can open doors and reveal pathways to a promising future.

By Ebony D. Davenport Esq. University of Dayton School of Law Co-Chair YLD & Chair Editorial Board davenporte1@udayton.edu 937. 229.3555