CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Terria Blunt is a criminal defense attorney at the Law Office of Fry & Ritchie.
Blunt, 37, enjoys her role in the judicial system helping people overcome obstacles and start a new chapter in their lives.
CNow: When did you know this was your dream career, and what inspired you?
“True story: Clair Huxtable (played by Phylicia Rashad) from ‘The Cosby Show’ sparked my interest in pursuing a career in law. I grew up watching that show and she inspired me so much. She was a wife, mother and great lawyer, so I thought ‘Hey, I can do that!’
“I knew at a young age that I wanted to become an attorney. I have always had a desire to help people who didn’t have a voice.”
CNow: What was your motivation and process to reach the goal?
“Becoming an attorney was a lifelong dream of mine. My family kept me motivated throughout this process. My mother, Lafronda Blunt, father, Terry Blunt, and siblings, Ariel and Brandon, were a great source of support and encouragement for me.
“I also had close friends that helped push me. Being surrounded by positive people was crucial for me to achieve my goals. When I wanted to give up, they kept me on track.
“I immediately began working at a law firm when I graduated from high school. I first worked as a runner, then as a receptionist. I worked my way all the up to a legal assistant. I worked for different law firms in different positions. I graduated from Austin Peay State University with a bachelor’s degree. After college, I began working as an assistant for attorney Stephanie Ritchie Mize.”
CNow: What obstacles did you have to overcome and how did you do so?
“I worked for Stephanie Ritchie full-time during the day and attended law school at the Nashville School of Law full-time at night. It was a very hard schedule, but certainly worth it. Once I graduated from law school and passed the Tennessee bar exam, Stephanie Ritchie Mize took me on as her associate attorney.
“I have learned so much working with her. She is an amazing mentor. The skills and experience that I have gained from working under her are invaluable.
“Although transitioning from assistant to an attorney was challenging, it has been a complete blessing. A huge obstacle was overcoming the fear of failing. I had to overcome that fear by clinging to my dreams and believing in myself even when I did not feel like it.”
CNow: What do you like about your profession?
“I love being able to help people.
“The most rewarding part of my job is being able to connect with so many different people and change lives, both theirs and mine. For example, I handle a lot of criminal cases. If I have clients with drug charges, then I make it a goal of mine to find them some type of treatment so that they are not just put back in the same situation.
“Treatment would arm them with the necessary tools to handle situations in a better way. I always want to push people to do and be better.”
CNow: Tell me some things about yourself that you’d like other people to know?
“I was born in Germany because my father was in the United States Army. I traveled the world at a young age and still love to travel.
“I do not have any children, but I love working with young people. I am also on the board of directors for the Clarksville Youth Coalition, where we work with troubled youth in Montgomery County. It is an amazing program that is helping young people in the court system turn their lives around.”
CNow: What advice would you give to others who have dreams to fulfill?
“My advice would be to keep God first. If he’s first, then everything else will fall into place. Surround yourself with a good support system, friends/family. People that keep you encouraged are crucial for success. Gain as much knowledge as you can in the field you want to be in and then connect with someone in that field. Learn from them. Lastly, never ever give up on your dreams. Set a goal, crush the goal, repeat! All things are possible if you believe.”
Celebrating Black “HerStory” is a Black History Month series celebrating women who are living their dream and making a difference as professionals and entrepreneurs.