Meet Candice! Candice Brown was born in Southern California but spent the majority of her teenage and young adult years living in Modesto, California before she moved to Reno, Nevada, in 2015. Growing up, she always wanted to be an interior designer and worked in various home décor stores while in high school.
After graduating high school, Candice focused on interior design until she was in her mid-20s. Upon becoming pregnant, she felt it was time to move into a steadier field of employment. She has always been interested in the legal world, so she enrolled in a paralegal studies program; her goal was to obtain a bachelor’s degree in legal studies. After the birth of her son, she continued her legal education while being a stay-at-home mom. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies, graduating Summa Cum Laude.
After graduation, Candice worked as an Executive Assistant and Office Manager for a small office that specialized in Wills, Trusts, and Estates for almost a year before she moved to a firm focusing on Social Security Disability, where she stayed for 3.5 years. She was initially hired as a receptionist; however, within 6 months, she was promoted to Legal Assistant. In 2021, Candice joined the BWB&O Reno office as a paralegal.
In her free time, Candice enjoys spending time with her son and taking care of her freshwater aquariums, which, she jokes, is a part-time job of its own as she has eight fish tanks ranging from 5 gallons to 75 gallons. Candice never lost her love for interior design and has a never-ending list of plans to redecorate her house, with many of the themes revolving around aquatic styles.
Q&A
Q: What do you enjoy most about your Paralegal position in BWB&O’s Reno office?
A: It is challenging in a good way; I learn something new every day. Every slip-and-fall case has unique needs and strategies (and there are many). I’ve also learned a lot through the CLEs and speaking with various experts.
Q: How do you handle pressure under tight deadlines? Share your tips for staying calm and focused.
A: I make it a priority to keep an ongoing list of tasks to track by assigning a number to it based on priority. When an urgent task comes in, I readjust the priority numbers and switch focus. When I feel overwhelmed, it helps to take a quick break, a deep breath, and step outside for some fresh air to clear my head and refocus.
Q: What’s a favorite aspect of BWB&O’s culture?
A: There is open communication in our office! Some days are busier than others, and during those days, someone on our team may bring in donuts or buy the team lunch. Another perk is someone in the office is always available for a quick brainstorming session. We all work well together and look out for one another. That goes a long way in sustaining a healthy work environment!
Q: Your aquatic collection is amazing! What kind of fish do you care for?
A: I have a 5-gallon tank with a Copper Koi Betta, a 7.5-gallon tank with Cherry Shrimp and Micro Thai Crabs, a 15-gallon with Gold Cobra Guppies, a 20-gallon with Sunburst Platies, another 20-gallon with Dalmatian Mollies, a 37 gallon with White Skirt Tetras, a 40 gallon with Yellow Swordtails, and the 75 gallon has a Giant Gourami, a Pictus Catfish, Amano Shrimp, Blue Wag Platies, Kuhli Loaches, and Panda Garras.
A special thank you to Candice for sharing her experience with us!