In your own words, what do you do?

I am an attorney/partner with Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP, the largest law firm in Fort Worth, Texas. I practice in the Real Estate/Finance section at the firm. I represent clients in all areas of real estate ownership, real estate-based financing and development of various real estate products including office, hotel, resort, ranch land and multi-family uses. Probably my most exciting transaction was one where I represented a client who bought, financed, refinanced and sold the Plaza Hotel in New York City to Donald Trump, all in one six-month period.

What is fulfilling to you about your work?

I love every aspect of what I do in the practice of law. Transactional legal work involves critical thinking and writing—and each new transaction presents issues that are always interesting. My goal was to have a career where I would be continuously challenged and never bored, and that is what I have.

Why did you choose Liberal Arts and how did your degree help you get to where you are today?

I think the smartest thing I ever did was to major in English. No matter what field you go into, you have to be able to think critically, and you have to be able to write well and express your ideas in a coherent manner. If you do not have those skills, I think there are very few careers where you will excel. My studies as an English major gave me those skills; and I believe that a liberal arts program, regardless of one’s major, emphasizes those skills.

My liberal arts degree prepared me exceedingly well for law school. I remember being told in an introductory session for all first year law students that we were all bright and accustomed to being at the top of our class, but that would not be the case in law school. And that statement was accurate. While all of the students were bright and energetic, those who could best analyze issues and communicate their conclusions coherently and efficiently were the students who ended up at the top of the class. My education as an English major prepared me well, and I excelled in my classes because of the solid training I had received as an undergraduate at T.C.U.

What advice would you give to students seeking a degree in the liberal arts?

I would tell them that they have made a wise choice, and I would urge them to constantly push themselves in their classes and to take advantage of all the various writing opportunities that will be offered to them in a liberal arts program. It will help them to be become the best writers they can be—and if they learn to think critically and write well, they will have a huge advantage no matter what path they ultimately choose.