Braylee Swick, 35
Attorney, Partner
Employer: The Law Office of Strain & Yackel
Lives in: St. Marys
Professional responsibilities:
• Prepares and reviews legal and transactional documents for real estate closings and real estate related transactions including but not limited to the creation of business entities, security agreements and closing documents.
• Drafts, reviews and negotiates business contracts, wills, trusts and other estate planning tools
• Manages day-to-day business operations, including marketing, compliance matters, staff management, client experience, etc.
Accomplishments/Honors:
• Licensed to Practice Law in Georgia and Florida
• Firm was voted “Best law firm in Camden County” 2022
Community Involvement:
• Involved at Sugarmill Elementary, where her oldest son is a student and volunteers/donates annually to their various causes
• Former board member for Habitat for Humanity of Camden
• Member/affiliate of the Camden/Charlton County Board of Realtors
Why did you go into your particular field? I knew the law would afford me a unique opportunity to help others and make a difference in their lives while continuing to challenge myself on an intellectual level. Specifically with respect to my focus on real estate, I have always been interested in real estate but grew especially interested after my husband and I purchased our first home. I remember feeling so lost throughout the process even as a licensed attorney. From then on I was passionate about creating a closing experience that focuses on the client to ensure they feel comfortable and confident throughout the process.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a lawyer for as long as I can remember.
What was your first job? When I was 16 I worked after school as a salon assistant at Shabangs hair salon, which would explain my many hairstyles in my teenage years. It was such a fun and creative place to work!
What is the best advice you’ve ever received? “Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle, or your middle to someone else's end.” It’s so easy to compare where you are in your career to someone else’s and that can rob a person of so much positive energy and really hinder that forward momentum. Instead, focus on you and be authentic to yourself. My life took a pivotal turn in the direction of my dreams when I really focused on myself and my own personal and professional growth.
What’s your favorite thing about your job? Undoubtedly it’s the opportunity to work with and meet so many different people each and every day. I’m an incredibly social person so I need to be where the people are. This career allows me to work with so many different people from different walks of life. I learn where they’re coming from, where they’re going, how they came to Camden and all of the things in between. I love hearing their stories and helping them through whatever it is we need to – whether it’s a consult or a closing. I just love it.
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started your career? Don’t doubt yourself. Find what brings you confidence and embrace that in everything you do. The success will follow.
Who do you consider to be your greatest mentor and why? I would consider my business partner, Kevin Yackel, to be my greatest mentor. When I joined him at the practice, he really took me under his wing and shared so much of his knowledge with me. To this day he’s created such a positive environment for me to learn and grow in; he helps me navigate difficult scenarios and find creative solutions to best serve the client, and he continues to support me in all that we do. I’ve been very fortunate to have found such a great partner in law and business – it has undoubtedly been critical to my success.
When you’re not at work, what do you do to relax? I love to spend time on the boat or at the beach with my husband, Scott, and our two boys, Shepard, 6 and Bowen, 19 months.
What is something about you that most people don’t know? Inshore fishing is a hobby of mine, and I’m pretty good at it. I think most people would be surprised to learn that because many in the business world likely perceive me as quite the “girly-girl” but that’s just one aspect of my personality. I love the glam but I’m happy to get out on the boat, bait my own hook and get a little dirty.
How do you hope to grow in your career? I will to continue to look for opportunities to take on projects that challenge me and help grow my skill set both as an attorney and a businesswoman.
If you couldn’t do what you’re doing now, what would you be doing? I would have pursued a career in journalism. Surprisingly, around the time I was accepted to law school I was also offered an internship position with a magazine in New York City. Had I not gotten into law school I would have chosen that path instead. Ultimately, I knew a career in law was my only option.