By Shawn Nowlin
Congratulations to Amanda Burch, a Roanoke native who recently accomplished her lifelong goal of becoming an attorney. At nine, Burch, with the help of loved ones, developed a thorough plan in 1997 to achieve her dream. Over the last 26 years, she strategically made decisions that aligned with her vision becoming a reality.
“Being a lawyer has always been a passion of mine. I knew in the fourth grade that I wanted to be an attorney. One of my biggest inspirations was the TV character Ben Matlock. I loved how he would gather as much information as possible before coming to a definitive conclusion,” she said. “I lived my teenage life in accordance with my ultimate goal. There were plenty of opportunities to get distracted, but I knew what the main objective was and stayed the course.”
Burch grew up surrounded by hard-working individuals. Her parents, Sherman and Cathy, taught their four children the importance of hard work, how having a positive attitude can have a domino effect, and what awaits them in the real world.
Opening up about her upbringing, Burch explained, “My mother has always been my number one supporter. My dad passed away three years ago, and he loved me unconditionally. I have three brothers who all pushed me to reach my potential, in their own unique ways. My upbringing was far from perfect, but when I think back on it, the pros far outweigh the cons.”
Burch’s journey from adventurous pupil to successful professional did not happen overnight. Ever the hard worker, as a teenager, Burch excelled academically and was involved in numerous extracurricular activities. The ‘06 Patrick Henry graduate has fond memories of her high school years, most notably the lifelong relationships she cultivated with her fellow track and field athletes.
Before transferring to Georgia State University (GSU) to complete her undergraduate degree, Burch started her post-high school education at Clark Atlanta University.
After GSU, Burch studied Conflict Analysis & Resolution at Nova Southeastern University as well as Sports Management at Concordia University Chicago. In 2020, she graduated from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. Reflecting on her college experience, Burch said, “I had some awesome professors who held me accountable and encouraged me to push through any adversity. Their gestures were vital to me getting across the finish line.”
Relatively speaking, few professions are as male-dominated as the legal world. According to Burch, less than ten percent of lawyers are African American which is why she takes such pride in serving as a role model for the next generation of women leaders. While she is still defining her specialized area, Burch for sure wants to practice sports law.
“Sometimes we want things right now, but that’s not how life works. I was told so many times that I’d never be an attorney or that my scores weren’t good enough to pass the bar. I got denied from 21 law schools before Western Michigan University accepted me in 2017,” she said. “Anytime someone spoke negatively in my atmosphere, I took that criticism and turned it into a positive thing. No matter how long it takes to get there, if you surround yourself with supportive individuals and never stop believing in yourself, you will be proud of what you achieve.”
