Wisdom from the Trenches: Life Lessons and Insights from Civil Rights Attorney Sarah Schielke
Sarah Schielke’s unconventional path to becoming a leading civil rights attorney has been marked by personal loss, resilience, and a deep commitment to improving the world. Her journey, from offering discount legal services on Craigslist to achieving record-breaking settlements in high-profile cases, has yielded valuable insights and life lessons that resonate far beyond the legal realm.
At the core of Schielke’s philosophy is a belief in the inherent goodness of people. “I think, fundamentally, there are two types of people: There are good people, and there are good people in pain,” she reflects. “Everyone wakes up and thinks, ‘I’m going to try my best today,’ whatever they think their best is. But mostly everybody’s trying their best. And if they’re acting in a way we find outrageous or disgusting, it’s because they’re suffering in their way.”
This compassionate outlook has been shaped, in part, by Schielke’s own experiences with loss and suffering. The passing of her father to cancer, just as she was starting to practice law, was a pivotal moment that prompted her to reframe her life with gratitude, positivity, and forgiveness. “I think if my dad was still around and I hadn’t experienced that kind of amount of suffering and grief, I’d be very different today,” she acknowledges.
Schielke’s approach to overcoming adversity is rooted in constant learning and reaching out to others. “I read everything I can find about a situation. I reach out to people who I think have more experience and ask them,” she explains. This dedication to growth and self-improvement has been a driving force throughout her career, enabling her to adapt and succeed in a male-dominated field.
When asked about her definition of courage, Schielke offers a poignant response: “The brand of courage that I try to live by and teach to my kids is to try and execute, to have the determination to fix a wrong that you see, or make things better, even if people are telling you ‘no,’ or especially if the people who are telling you ‘no’ have a lot of power and are scary.” She emphasizes the importance of trusting oneself, loving others, and striving to leave the world a little better than one found it.
Reflecting on her younger self, Schielke acknowledges the profound transformation she has undergone. “My younger self is unrecognizable to who I am now, and it was only through a lot of loss and suffering and not wanting to have those things hurt so much that I worked so hard on myself and how I interact with the world and deal with the world,” she shares. Her advice to her younger self and others is simple yet powerful: “Keep loving to learn − you’re going to do a lot of it.”
Sarah Schielke’s wisdom, born from the trenches of personal and professional challenges, inspires those seeking to make a difference in the world. Her insights remind us of the transformative power of resilience, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to growth and justice. By embracing these lessons and striving to be a force for good, we can all play a part in building a better, more equitable society.
Sarah Schielke’s unconventional path to becoming a leading civil rights attorney has been marked by personal loss, resilience, and a deep commitment to improving the world. Her journey, from offering discount legal services on Craigslist to achieving record-breaking settlements in high-profile cases, has yielded valuable insights and life lessons that resonate far beyond the legal…