Monday Profile: Marcie Ridley

Born into a family of prosecutors, Marcie Ridley has always had a passion for the law and the desire to be an attorney. Ridley graduated from the University of Tennessee-Martin and went on to study law at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. During her years there, she worked with the Federal Public Defenders Office of Western Michigan and wrote for the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review. Ridley joined Grabel & Associates in East Lansing as a law clerk and then became an associate after graduating cum laude from law school in 2001. She remains an associate at Grabel & Associates, mainly handling driver's license restoration cases. Ridley has lived in the Lansing area for more than 15 years and is active in the community. By Jo Mathis Legal News What would surprise people about your job? Driver's license restoration cases can be just as involved and complicated as a criminal case. What do you wish someone would invent? A personal assistant robot who could complete paperwork without mistakes. What is your most treasured material possession? My wedding ring. What advice do you have for someone considering law school? Be prepared to do a lot of reading. Favorite local hangouts: I enjoy going out to eat at local restaurants and attending Lugnut games during the season. Favorite websites: News websites like CNN.com. What is your happiest childhood memory? Family vacations. I'm the oldest of four children and our family vacations were always an adventure. What has been your favorite year so far? 2007, when my daughter was born. What is your most typical mood? Laid back. Why did you become a lawyer? About 75 percent of my family is in the legal profession and that's what I grew up around. If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would that be? My parents, because they are retired. What's the most awe-inspiring place you've ever been? Grand Cayman. What did you do last weekend? I went shopping and out to dinner with my family. If you could have one super power, what would it be? The ability to read minds. What would you say to your 16-year-old self? To trust myself about my career choice. I was starting to look at colleges around that age and there was some time where I was second guessing my decision to pursue a career in law. What is your proudest moment as a lawyer? My very first driver's license restoration hearing, which I won. What do you do to relax? I watch TV, spend time with my family, go shopping and take walks. How would you describe your home? Cozy. What word do you overuse? "No." What is one thing you would like to learn to do? Knit. What is something most people don't know about you? I consider myself to be pretty open, so there isn't something that most people would know about me. If you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be? President Obama, Audrey Hepburn and Margaret Mitchell. What is the best advice you ever received? Do not go to bed angry at your spouse. If you can help it, where will you never return? Disney World. What do you drive? A Toyota Corolla. What would you drive if money were no object? A Toyota Corolla. Favorite place to spend money: Going out to dinner with my family. What is your motto? "It is what it is." What would you like carved onto your tombstone? "Beloved Wife and Mother." Published: Mon, Nov 17, 2014