MEET:  Lori R. Keeton

Lori Keeton is the owner and partner at the Law Offices of Lori Keeton in Charlotte, NC. With experience in municipal law, her practice focuses on defending police officers who are facing lawsuits involving alleged use of excessive force. Lori is a graduate of the University of Florida School of Law. An active NCADA member since 2004, Lori is a past chair of our Government Practice Group.  Join us in getting to learn a little bit more about Lori!

What drew you to the practice of law and to a litigation and trial practice? My stepfather was Judge Advocate General of the Army and then Dean of Mississippi College School of Law. My mother was an English teacher. Together, they taught me to love words and recognize their potential power which naturally led to a career in litigation (…and of course my sisters represented the perfect sparring partners to help me hone my skills!)

What would you do if you were not a lawyer? I would be a teacher if I were not a lawyer. I taught remedial English at a community college in Fort Myers, Florida the summer between my first and second years of law school. The majority of my students were older than I was and had full time jobs in addition to taking classes. English was a second language for many of them. They worked so hard to improve themselves. It was incredibly rewarding to watch them progress over the course of the semester.

Fun fact that people probably don’t know about you? I worked as a courier for a large law firm while in high school and on breaks from college. It taught me SO much about who I wanted to be- and who I did not want to be- once I became an attorney.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, to grab a coffee with, who would it be and why? Dolly Parton- I love her confidence, her kind heart and her work ethic… not to mention her hair (Tease it to Jesus!)

What excites you the most right now? My almost three-year-old goldendoodle, Finn. For anyone who follows me on Facebook or Instagram, this comes as no surprise to you as I post pictures of him constantly. I never thought I would be “that person,” but I am 100% “that person” when it comes to Finn.

What is one piece of professional or life advice you would tell your younger self? “Don’t worry- your time is coming!”