Checkout our third Black History Month feature on MGC Atlanta attorney Ashley Howard.
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Ashley Howard spent her childhood traveling the world. “My Dad was a member of the United States Air Force,” she adds. “…[I] spent a few years living just outside of London, and graduated high school in Ohio.” In 2003, Ashley moved to Savannah, Georgia—where both of her parents were born—to study Criminal Justice and Psychology at Georgia Southern University, already knowing that she’d pursue a career in the legal field.
“I spent a lot of time volunteering at a local women’s shelter in college,” says Ashley. “I’ve always felt a desire to help those in underprivileged communities, but spending time at the shelter and getting to know the families there really opened my eyes to the fact that the law is not just about rules and regulations. Law is also about rights, justice and is sometimes the most powerful tool you have to help bring about real and effective change,” she adds.
Ashley studied law at the University of Georgia where she was a member of the National Moot Court Team—who were crowned Regional Champions in 2009 and National Quarter Finalists. She was also named among the top 20 advocates in her graduating class by the National Order of the Barristers—an honor society of law school graduates and lawyers who demonstrate exceptional skill in trial advocacy, oral advocacy and brief writing. In 2019, Ashley joined MGC Atlanta’s litigation team after working as in-house counsel for a major insurance company and carrying a background of extensive trial experience, including successfully litigating numerous first-chair jury trials in various metro-Atlanta counties and serving as second chair counsel for over 50 jury trials.
One of Ashley’s recent endeavors was joining the firm’s WIN @ MGC committee, which upholds the commitment to recruit, retain and advance women in the legal industry, as well as to provide a platform for engagement, development and leadership opportunities for women at MGC.
“I’d like to see us utilize the WIN platform to engage and support our employees. Now more than ever with the pandemic, parents, and especially mothers, in the workforce are having to balance a multitude of responsibilities; I really want to find new ways to meet their needs during these unprecedented times.”
Speaking of working mothers, Ashley has two daughters—Taylor and Emory. “I am immensely grateful to the incredible women—in particular, women of color—who continue to inspire me with the huge leaps forward they have made this past year, with Vice President Kamala Harris leading the way,” she says. “I was so excited to witness history with my daughters. That moment was less about a party’s victory and instead about honoring a historical moment in our country.”