Q&A with Connie Carrigan
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Q&A
Q&A with Connie Carrigan
Connie Elder Carrigan – a partner at Smith Debnam in Raleigh, North Carolina – joined the firm in 1996. She concentrates her practice in business law, assisting clients in the areas of employment law, business advice and litigation, construction law, equipment leasing, and creditor bankruptcy.
An alumna of North Carolina State University, Carrigan earned her juris doctor from Campbell University School of Law in 1989. She has been practicing in the field of small business representation since 1990, and holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. She has lectured on topics ranging from employment law, bankruptcy, and equipment leasing to construction law, and is the author of manuscripts and materials prepared for attorneys and businesses seeking advice and counsel in these matters.
Q: Before becoming an attorney, what was your first job?
A: My first job was serving as a concessionaire at our local movie theater. Beyond the obvious benefits of being able to watch free movies [I think I may hold the record for multiple viewings of The Deer Hunter], I learned the value of providing reliable and friendly customer service.
Q: What motivated you to pursue a legal career?
A: I did not have a lifetime ambition to be an attorney as I am the only lawyer in my family. During my teen-age years, my mother worked as an administrative professional for the local bar association, and I spent several summers compiling continuing legal education manuscripts for attorneys. That was my first exposure to the legal world. I literally worked my way up the ladder, starting as a courthouse courier for a local law firm while I was in college. I worked as a paralegal for several years until it became apparent that the next logical step in my career was attending law school. I enjoy being of service to others and this profession enables me to effectively pursue that goal.
Q: Who was your chief mentor and how did he influence your career?
A: Former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Louis Meyer. I had the privilege of serving as his law clerk after I graduated from law school. He was a phenomenal mentor and friend. He and the other members of the court taught me by example how to craft a persuasive argument and the art of coming to a consensus for the common good.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
A: Be curious, not judgmental.
Q: What is one thing you would like to learn to do?
A: I’ve had a lifelong dream of learning how to play the piano. I’m not terribly optimistic that it will ever happen!
Q: What is your proudest career achievement?
A: Building a successful employment law practice in which I guide clients in cultivating mutually beneficial relationships with their employees. I get a lot of satisfaction in helping my clients put together practices that accomplish that objective.
Longtime fans of the North Carolina State football team, Connie Carrigan and her husband, Tom, regularly attend Wolfpack games at home and away venues.
Connie Carrigan
Q: What other career path might you have chosen?
A: I’ve flirted for a number of years with the idea of owning the Blue Moon bookstore/coffee shop in my North Carolina mountain hometown. It is a delightful community gathering place.
Q: What is your most treasured material possession?
A: I am the proud owner of my grandmother’s antique china cabinet. It never fails to remind me of her comforting presence and incomparable home cooking.
Q: What is your happiest childhood memory?
A: Spending my August birthdays with my grandparents in Richmond, Virginia, chasing lightning bugs and hanging out with my cousins.
Q: What is your favorite movie and book?
A: I’d be hard pressed to come up with a favorite movie, but I was intrigued by the Richard Linklater movie Boyhood. It was a coming-of-age story shot over a 12-year time frame and provided a poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of time. I love to read historical fiction. Favorite authors include the classic writers like Faulkner, Hemingway, and Fitzgerald, but a recent favorite is Amor Towles.
Q: What is the most awe-inspiring place you have visited?
A: I loved my visit to the Scottish Highlands, although I didn’t see the Loch Ness Monster as I had hoped. My son was married at the Grand Canyon and it is hard to beat the views I witnessed during the helicopter tour we took while we were there!
Q: What are your favorite leisure time pursuits?
A: During football season, you’ll find me at North Carolina State games cheering for my Wolfpack. During the rest of the year, I love exploring the towns and natural areas around our home in the North Carolina mountains and finding opportunities to listen to live music.
Q: What is your favorite famous or inspirational quote?
A: I try to live by the advice provided by the late Jim Valvano: “Never give up! Failure and rejection are only the first step to succeeding.”
Q: Who is on your guest list for the ideal dinner party?
A: Sir Paul McCartney, Michelle Obama, Queen Elizabeth, Heather Cox Richardson, and Diana Gabaldon.
Q: Name the top three items on your bucket list?
A: Take extended trips to visit family members in Australia and Norway. Tour Ireland to reconnect with my roots. Take a Mediterranean cruise with lots of wine tasting opportunities.