We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kirton Madison. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kirton below.

Kirton, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

I was an Air Force officer before I made the career change to become a lawyer. The most important lesson I learned in the military was to “just do it.” Experience is the best teacher. When you have an assignment, there is no limit to the amount of research and preparation you can do before beginning the task. However, too much research or preparation can lead to indecisiveness, procrastination, and missed opportunities if you are not careful.

We often joked that the military used a sink-or-swim approach to prepare its officers. Now that I am older, I realize why they favor this approach. There is no better way to build confidence than to overcome the obstacles that terrify you.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have been an attorney since 2011. I have practiced employment law (almost exclusively) for the past 10 years. Before I became an attorney, I was an Air Force Combat Camera officer. The job is pretty much like it sounds. We covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We also documented military exercises, training, and humanitarian missions (such as Hurricane Katrina & the 2004 – 2005 tsunami relief in Thailand and Indonesia). I traveled a lot. When I returned from Iraq in 2007, a friend suggested that I sit for the LSAT (the law school entrance exam). He feared that I would be hurt, or worse, if I stayed in the military. I took the exam, and the rest is history. I left active duty in the summer of 2008 and enrolled in law school that Fall.

I graduated in 2011 and passed the bar on my first try. The self-discipline I regularly practiced while on active duty paid dividends during law school and bar study. I tried my hand at criminal defense and a few other practice areas early in my legal career, but none felt right. The work provided a paycheck, but I was not passionate about it. An ex-girlfriend (also an attorney) introduced me to employment law. Our relationship did not last, but I have been hooked on helping employees ever since. I made a conscious decision early on that I would only represent employees. I often joke that I am similar to a Jedi knight fighting for the people against the Empire/Corporate America (for any Star Wars fan who might be reading this).

Employment law is civil rights law, and it applies to everyone. Regardless of your race, gender, religion, or national origin, you will one day be over 40 years of age, or you may get sick and need an accommodation at your job. If this happens, you should contact an employment attorney if your job infringes upon your rights. Over the years, I have found that many clients do not know their rights, regardless of their education, experience, or income. Or they are unsure of how to assert their rights and protect themselves in the process.

Some employers like to include unenforceable terms in employment agreements and non-compete agreements. Or they may offer hush money as part of a severance agreement after an employee complains of unlawful activities or treatment. My job is to educate employees about the documents they are signing. Employees need to know what they are giving away and receiving in return. With this knowledge, we can discuss options for changing the agreement’s language, to make it more favorable to you, the employee. We can also discuss whether the amount of money your employer has offered you to sign the agreement is worth it. If you have additional claims against your employer, this is leverage I can use to negotiate for more money. Negotiating with companies and their attorneys is an art form. It takes skill, and most employees do not know what their claims are worth. Imagine accepting a small severance payout for a claim worth no less than six figures! This happens often, and employers (and their attorneys) will try to bully their employees into quickly signing away their right to sue. I enjoy swooping in and helping distraught employees get a clear picture of what is actually on the table and fighting tooth and nail, so they get what they deserve.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

My son was diagnosed with autism in 2017. It took me a while to accept his diagnosis. I kept thinking that the doctors had it wrong and that my son was going to live a normal life. However, I have learned that what is normal is subjective. We all have quirks; some of us are better at hiding ours than others.

Finding a job that allowed the flexibility I needed to care for my son was difficult. We had a ton of therapists and different doctors to see every week. However, being a stay-at-home dad did not interest me. Accepting my son’s diagnosis provided the spark that I needed to jump off the ledge and work for myself full-time. It has been a rollercoaster ride, but I cannot imagine working for someone else again.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

My best source of new clients is a tie between Google search and social media (Instagram and Facebook). I am part of a small number of employment attorneys who only represent employees. I do not practice other areas of law and believe this makes a difference in my clients’ eyes. I also regularly post informational videos online and on social media. New clients often mention the videos during our initial consultation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.madisonlawpllc.com
• Instagram: @attorneykmadison
• Facebook: Madison Law, PLLC
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirton-madison-a111681a

Image Credits

Yata Photography