This Monday, we are featuring Junior League of Charlotte member Julie Spahn as part of our Member Monday series. Julie is the chair of the Get on Board committee, a member of the Board of Director’s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force and currently works for her own law firm, Spahn Law Firm. Read more about the Richmond, VA native below.
1) Thanks for taking time to share some personal insights with us today. Can you give us some background information- tell me about your family and early years?
I grew up in Richmond, Virginia and attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia and graduated with a BBA in International Business and a minor in Spanish. After undergrad, I moved to Charlotte for law school and have lived here for a little over ten years. I’m an immigration lawyer and spend my days helping individuals, families, and businesses achieve their immigration goals.
2) What is the best and worst decision you’ve ever made?
My best decision is a toss-up. It’s either adopting my shih-tzu/lhasa apso mix, Bailey, or quitting my job about two years ago and opening my own law firm. It’s certainly challenging to manage the business side of things, while maintaining a practice and taking care of clients, but I love the autonomy and it’s truly the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done! As far as the worst decision I’ve ever made, I know there have been missteps along the way, but luckily most of them are things I’ve learned from or have been able to correct.
3) What woman inspires you and why?
My grandmother stands out as one of the most influential women in my life. She was a constant figure throughout my childhood and I learned so much from her. She was incredibly intelligent—she worked as a researcher on nuclear weapons on the Manhattan Project during World War II, could make any sort of craft like a professional, taught me all about cooking and baking, and remained active her entire life with groups from church or her bridge club. She was incredibly warm hearted, supportive, and loving to everyone in her life, and I hope I carry embody some of the characteristics she taught me.
4) From start to finish, what would your ideal day be like?
I love to travel and explore new cities. My ideal day would probably to be exploring a new city, wake up and have a big cup of coffee on a balcony, go explore the city and do some people watching (and shopping), and a nice dinner outside with good wine and good friends.
5) What keeps you up at night?
I’m probably thinking about a client’s case—I’ve been known to drive to the office to check random hours if something is really bugging me!
6) If you could tell your 23-year-old self one thing what would it be?
Control the controllables. I spent so much time in my younger years worrying about things I had absolutely no control over. While it’s been difficult for my Type A personality to let go, I’ve learned that I can only control so much and the rest is not up to me, you just have to make the best of the situation and the rest will usually work itself out.
7) One thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
I was born in South Korea and came to the United States when I was adopted at the age of 3 months old (but I don’t speak any Korean and am a Korean school dropout).
8) How has the Junior League helped you develop your potential, taught you something unique, and/or given you an opportunity that you never would have had otherwise?
I accepted my first leadership role in the JLC five years ago. That experience gave me the confidence to seek out other leadership opportunities in the community and professionally. Without the JLC, I would not be the leader I am today. I’m so grateful to the League for providing me with the training and experience to be an effective leader and make my mark on the Charlotte community and within my profession.
Written by Marielle Harris
