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– 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 L
Lindsey Herr went to college to study both
philosophy and biology. “I was interested in
both!” But by her sophomore year at University
of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg,
Virginia, Lindsey knew she want to go to law
school. “I just didn’t take the traditional route
that most do, taking classes in political science
and such.” After applying to law schools down
the Eastern seaboard and across the south to
Arkansas, the Martinsville, Virginia, native
received a letter from Mississippi College in
Clinton. “There was a handwritten note with
my acceptance letter, and that’s what helped
me make my decision to come to Mississippi.”
Lindsey has had a passion for juvenile justice
for as long as she can remember. “I interned
at a law firm in Virginia that specialized in
juvenile justice – a job I took on a whim.”
While working at that firm, Lindsey learned a
lot about abuse and neglect and the importance
of protecting those who are too young to
protect themselves. “I wrote my entrance essay
on juvenile justice and why I thought it was
important. The dean of the MC Law School
wrote that I should check out their family
law studies.”
While in law school, Lindsey interned with
Staci O’Neal, who owned a small law firm in
Madison. “Staci contacted the MC Law School
and asked for an intern. When I got there, she
asked what I knew about real estate and
closings, and I told her I knew very little. But
she taught me so much.” Staci ran for judge in
Madison County, and during that time, she
prepped Lindsey on managing the day-to-day
duties at the law firm should she win the
election, which she did in November 2016.
That was a turning point for Lindsey. She
and her husband, Matt, discussed what could
be a bigger plan for Lindsey’s career. “I could
go to work for a larger firm, or I could buy Staci’s
firm and run it as my own.” On January 1, 2017,
Lindsey hung her shingle on Herr Law Firm
in Madison.
If everything you do in life prepares you for
the next thing, then Lindsey’s internships at law
firms that focused on juvenile justice and real
estate law prepared her to specialize in those
areas. In Madison, she is a public defender in
youth court. “When a kid is arrested for a
crime, we move with them through the court
system. In cases of abuse or neglect, we work
on guardian ad litem to protect the best
interest of the children.”
Real estate is also a big part of Herr Law
Firm. “We deal with closings as well as state
probate, which we take to court to deal with
last wishes. We also do estate legacy planning.
Much of the law we deal with has to do with
specific stages of life. We are at both ends of
the spectrum, from buying a first home to
selling a home after the death of parents.
That keeps it interesting.”
Lindsey says she enjoys practicing law
because it allows her to help others while
maintaining a good home-life balance. With
two 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 in
Madison and Rankin Counties, is also a big
help at home.
Herr Law Firm is a small firm, by design.
“I like having it small, as I feel we can better
serve our clients,” Lindsey says. The other
person working in the firm is Emma Crosby,
who took her bar exam in July. “Bringing
Emma in has been great. We do a good bit of
family law, including divorce, child custody
adjustments, name changes and adoptions.”
Outside of work, Lindsey is involved with
at-risk teenage girls in Madison County. She
formed a non-profit called Brave New Girls,
Inc. in August 2019. Girls from the area met
with Lindsey each week in a small group
setting where they learned life skills. It also
gave them a safe place to talk about what was
going on in their lives. “Sadly, Covid has
upended the good intentions I had,” signs
Lindsey. Now the focus is on fewer girls, but
girls with very specific needs, such as three
girls who were pregnant. “We support them
from pregnancy to young mothers, which
looks different for each girl. We are pouring
into the girls, to motivate them and keep them
on the right track and trying to keep them off
my docket!”
As a successful attorney and businesswoman,
Lindsey feels fortunate to do what she does,
and it is important to her to show young
women that they can make a good living and
have 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