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Bose McKinney & Evans LLP
University of Cincinnati College of Law, 2019
Why did you decide to enter the legal profession?
At a young age, I knew I wanted to be an attorney and walk in the footsteps of my father, Tim Ochs. I idolized my dad and wanted to be exactly like him. To this day, he has, in my mind, set the gold standard for what an attorney should be.
If you hadn’t pursued a legal career, what would you be doing?
If law did not work out, I would have tried to make it as a sportswriter or, more likely, I would have gone to culinary school and become a chef in a restaurant. There is a running joke in my family about my mom secretly wishing law school did not work out so there would be a chef in the family. I still think I am a pretty good cook, but unfortunately for her, I ended up graduating law school.
Who is someone who has inspired you in your career?
Tippecanoe Magistrate Sarah Wyatt really took me under her wing when I first began practicing law. She was instrumental in teaching me how to practice as an attorney. She always made time for advice or mentorship, and she always presented herself with such poise and confidence. (She officiated my wedding, so I am indebted to her for that too.)
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
In my early years practicing in Lafayette, I went to one of the firm’s partners, John McBride, to discuss an issue related to a corporate client. I had printed off emails and was ready to discuss. Instead, John picked up the phone, called the client, and we hashed out the problem in under five minutes. His advice? “Pick up the phone.” While so much of the work attorneys do in today’s digital world is over email, sometimes the easiest way to solve a problem is a quick phone call to opposing counsel or a client.
What makes a good lawyer/judge?
In the transactional world, it is important to understand not just the law, but the business and deal structure too. A full understanding of the business side of a deal means understanding what matters to the client, when to push on behalf of the client, and ultimately, knowing when to concede minor issues to avoid killing a deal.
What is something you wish people knew about lawyers?
Not all of us are “courtroom” attorneys. Most people I come across always assume every attorney does criminal defense work, or our day-to-day lives mirror that of lawyer TV shows and movies. In the transactional world, that could not be farther from what my job actually looks like or entails. My adjunct real estate professor at the University of Cincinnati, Kevin Flynn, liked to say: “If I am in a court room, something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.”
Tell us something surprising about you.
I am a horrible singer, but with that in mind, and against all odds, I can put on a pretty impressive karaoke rendition of “Walking in Memphis.”
Tell us about a “lesson learned” moment you’ve had in your career.
My first ever paralegal, Vicki Schroeder, was the perfect fit for a new attorney fresh out of law school. Vicki had a ton of experience and knowledge, and with her help I was able to really learn and grow as a young attorney. I was very lucky to learn so early about the importance of support staff, and more importantly, how absolutely necessary it is to treat support staff like gold. (Big shoutout to Erica Bailey, Patty Miller, and Andrew Watt for their continued help!)
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