Lindsey HerrHerr Law Firm90 • SEPTEMBER 2021
– W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S –A D V E R T O R I A LLindsey Herr went to college to study bothphilosophy and biology. “I was interested inboth!” But by her sophomore year at Universityof Mary Washington in Fredericksburg,Virginia, Lindsey knew she want to go to lawschool. “I just didn’t take the traditional routethat most do, taking classes in political scienceand such.” After applying to law schools downthe Eastern seaboard and across the south toArkansas, the Martinsville, Virginia, nativereceived a letter from Mississippi College inClinton. “There was a handwritten note withmy acceptance letter, and that’s what helpedme make my decision to come to Mississippi.”Lindsey has had a passion for juvenile justicefor as long as she can remember. “I internedat a law firm in Virginia that specialized injuvenile justice – a job I took on a whim.”While working at that firm, Lindsey learned alot about abuse and neglect and the importanceof protecting those who are too young toprotect themselves. “I wrote my entrance essayon juvenile justice and why I thought it wasimportant. The dean of the MC Law Schoolwrote that I should check out their familylaw studies.”While in law school, Lindsey interned withStaci O’Neal, who owned a small law firm inMadison. “Staci contacted the MC Law Schooland asked for an intern. When I got there, sheasked what I knew about real estate andclosings, and I told her I knew very little. Butshe taught me so much.” Staci ran for judge inMadison County, and during that time, sheprepped Lindsey on managing the day-to-dayduties at the law firm should she win theelection, which she did in November 2016.That was a turning point for Lindsey. Sheand her husband, Matt, discussed what couldbe a bigger plan for Lindsey’s career. “I couldgo to work for a larger firm, or I could buy Staci’sfirm and run it as my own.” On January 1, 2017,Lindsey hung her shingle on Herr Law Firmin Madison.If everything you do in life prepares you forthe next thing, then Lindsey’s internships at lawfirms that focused on juvenile justice and realestate law prepared her to specialize in thoseareas. In Madison, she is a public defender inyouth court. “When a kid is arrested for acrime, we move with them through the courtsystem. In cases of abuse or neglect, we workon guardian ad litem to protect the bestinterest of the children.”Real estate is also a big part of Herr LawFirm. “We deal with closings as well as stateprobate, which we take to court to deal withlast wishes. We also do estate legacy planning.Much of the law we deal with has to do withspecific stages of life. We are at both ends ofthe spectrum, from buying a first home toselling a home after the death of parents.That keeps it interesting.”Lindsey says she enjoys practicing lawbecause it allows her to help others whilemaintaining a good home-life balance. Withtwo young children, there is an ebb and flow,and she is flexible to be where she needs to be.The couple has a three-year-old daughter,Penny, and a six-month-old son, Will. Matt,who is a case manager for adult drug court inMadison and Rankin Counties, is also a bighelp at home.Herr Law Firm is a small firm, by design.“I like having it small, as I feel we can betterserve our clients,” Lindsey says. The otherperson working in the firm is Emma Crosby,who took her bar exam in July. “BringingEmma in has been great. We do a good bit offamily law, including divorce, child custodyadjustments, name changes and adoptions.”Outside of work, Lindsey is involved withat-risk teenage girls in Madison County. Sheformed a non-profit called Brave New Girls,Inc. in August 2019. Girls from the area metwith Lindsey each week in a small groupsetting where they learned life skills. It alsogave them a safe place to talk about what wasgoing on in their lives. “Sadly, Covid hasupended the good intentions I had,” signsLindsey. Now the focus is on fewer girls, butgirls with very specific needs, such as threegirls who were pregnant. “We support themfrom pregnancy to young mothers, whichlooks different for each girl. We are pouringinto the girls, to motivate them and keep themon the right track and trying to keep them offmy docket!”As a successful attorney and businesswoman,Lindsey feels fortunate to do what she does,and it is important to her to show youngwomen that they can make a good living andhave a healthy work-life balance.Lindsey's office is at 7736 Old Canton Road, Suite C, Madison.More information can be found at www.herrfirm.com.Hometown MADISON • 91