Hello My Name Is

ISAAC WESTLING

HELLO MY NAME IS By: Jennifer Franklyn

Leitner Williams Dooley Napolitan, PLLC

This month’s “Hello, My Name Is…” q-and-a column features Isaac Westling, an Associate Attorney at the Law Offices of James A. H. Bell. Isaac practices primarily criminal defense and personal injury law, and he is also a Rule 31 mediator. Prior to law school, Isaac attended Florida Southwestern State College, where he majored in Public Administration. Although he is a recent addition to the bar, as a May 2021 graduate of Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law, Isaac has already become involved in the KBA and is a Co-Chair of the Barrister’s Mock Trial Committee. I hope you enjoy getting to know Isaac, a rising star in the KBA.

Where are you from?

I am from everywhere. Although I was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, I moved around throughout my childhood. My father was an ambitious entrepreneur whose ventures led our family from North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Florida, Tennessee, and back again. When I finally started high school in Cape Coral, Florida, I had attended eleven different schools. Being that I stayed in one spot for high school and undergrad, I usually claim Cape Coral, Florida, as my primary “hometown.”

Why did you decide to stay in Knoxville?

I have lived and traveled across the United States. Some places have the best beaches, and some have the clearest lakes. America is so beautiful and unique that it was difficult to choose when I wanted to stay and settle down. But I have determined through my life experiences that Knoxville is by far one of the best places to live due to the “people.” My neighbors, my school (Lincoln Memorial Law), and all my colleagues in the legal field all have shown me tremendous love and support. Plus, Knoxville’s weather is the best of both worlds: you do not have the severe winters of North Dakota or the scorching hot summers of Florida.

When you were ten years old, what did you want to be when you grow up?

When I was ten years old, I wanted to be a smokejumper. A smokejumper is a specially trained firefighter who parachutes from a plane into a remote area to combat wildfires. Why would I want to do this? Because it was adventurous, I could help save people and animals, and make a lot of money doing it. Somehow, instead, I am an attorney. There are similarities though. Some days it feels like I am jumping out of a plane into a fire. Also, I try hard each day to make a positive difference in people’s lives. (I just need to figure out the lots of money part!)

Describe a significant work experience prior to becoming a lawyer that impacted your career.

After my first year of law school, I was provided the opportunity to work for Tarpy, Cox, Fleishman & Leveille. While there I was able to learn from some great attorneys such as Lynn Tarpy, Jed McKeehan, and John Haines. Through my experiences there, I learned that I wanted to focus on litigation in my legal career. I found that I enjoyed most the process and the challenge of litigation.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

Some of the best advice I was ever given comes from a combination of two similar quotes: “you create your own luck” and “the harder I work, the luckier I get.” I was taught that, through our determination and dedication, we can create a bit of our own luck.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my dog (Kira) and hanging out with friends. I enjoy just about anything outdoors. In the warmer months, I love kayaking the local quarries and rivers, hiking the mountains, and shooting sporting clays at the range. In the winter, I like to go to the Sugar and Beech Mountain Resorts to snowboard and an occasional skate around the Market Square ice rink.