Meet Ashly
From Humble Beginnings to Head Paralegal
Ashly’s journey at Cape Fear Family Law began in 2013 where she had a less than conventional start. Her roommate at the time worked at the firm which was becoming increasingly busy. To keep up with the tasks that began piling up, she brought Ashly in to help out with some administrative work. Ashly’s presence soon became requested more often than not and eventually she decided to show up without prompt and has continued to do so since then. During her time at Cape Fear, Ashly has grown to play an integral role in the Cape Fear family. She has had an ever-evolving position where she began as a Legal Assistant and worked her way to earning the title of Support Staff Manager. Through Ashly’s tenure at the firm, she has become heavily relied upon by her peers to the point where her taking a “staycation” is an anxiety inducing experience for her colleagues.
A Unique Perspective
Through a majority of her time at the firm, Ashly maintained a delicate balance between work and studying for her bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She initially dreamed of pursuing a career in clinical or experimental psychology but through her time at Cape Fear, found that her passion and knowledge in psychology gave her a unique and useful approach to Family Law which she would use to her benefit. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington for the purpose of finishing what she started but towards the end of her studies, she realized she had a long career ahead of her at the firm which she had grown to love.
Given her initial interest in psychology, Ashly had a unique road to becoming a Certified Paralegal and officially achieved her certification in December 2020. The traditional route to being eligible to take the exam involves schooling but given her 5 years of comprehensive experience, she was able to register for the North Carolina State Bar Exam for Paralegal Certification and passed with flying colors on her first shot.
Ashly possesses a naturally caring demeanor and is often touted as the person people vent to and go to for advice. She has a nurturing quality to her that has enabled her to excel in her career as she is able to connect with clients who are going through highly stressful situations and can resonate with them on a deep and practical level.
The American Dream In the Making
Outside of her career at the firm, Ashly has worked towards building the personal life of her dreams. After spending the first twelve years of her life in Long Island, New York, Ashly and her family packed their life up and moved to Wilmington. Ashly quickly grew to love the laid back aura that Wilmington radiates, making it the place she would choose to call her permanent home even after her family moved back to Long Island when she was 18. She married her husband, Brandon, in 2019 and soon after that they bought a home together. The pair now have a daughter, Luna Blair, that keeps her busy when she is outside of the office. Ashly finds she is happiest when spending quality time with her family, her best friend and her dog, Ripley.