Woman starts law at 47 builds thriving all women firm

Woman starts law at 47 builds thriving all women firm

At a time when many people are thinking about slowing down, Abigail Seymour decided to start an entirely new career. Now 59, the former photographer is a successful attorney and founder of an all-women bilingual law firm, proving it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

Seymour studied photography at New York University before moving to Spain in 1994 to teach English after her first marriage ended. Looking back, she says the move gave her a fresh start and the opportunity to embrace a new chapter in life.

While living in Spain, Seymour learned about the Camino de Santiago after meeting a man whose life had been transformed by completing the famous pilgrimage. Inspired by his story, she decided to walk the 485-mile Camino Francés alone. The month-long journey became one of the most life-changing experiences she had ever faced.

Traveling by herself taught Seymour resilience, patience, and self-confidence. Along the way, she built lasting friendships with fellow pilgrims, but more importantly, she discovered an inner strength that would later help her overcome some of life’s greatest challenges.

After returning to the United States in 1997, Seymour settled in North Carolina. She remarried, raised two children, and launched a successful photography business. Although her business thrived, she never felt photography was the career she was truly meant to pursue.

Years later, a newly opened law school in her town repeatedly caught her attention whenever she drove by. Curious about the legal profession, she began observing court proceedings and later worked with an immigration attorney while volunteering with a nonprofit that assisted immigrants. The experience reignited a dream she had held since childhood—to become a lawyer.

At first, Seymour believed she was too old and doubted she could ever pass the bar exam. But encouragement from those around her changed her perspective. One simple reminderthat people always have the ability to change gave her the confidence to pursue the career she had always wanted.

At age 47, Seymour enrolled in law school. She quickly fell in love with studying the law and enjoyed learning through real-life cases and experiences. But the journey was far from easy. During her first year, her sister died unexpectedly, leaving Seymour heartbroken and questioning whether she should continue.

Balancing grief, the demands of law school, and raising young children became one of the hardest periods of her life. She often compared herself to younger classmates and struggled with the heavy workload, but her fellow students remained supportive and welcoming.

At one point, Seymour seriously considered leaving the program. After meeting with the dean, he encouraged her to stay, reminding her that she had already overcome the hardest hurdle by getting accepted and completing much of the coursework. His words inspired her to keep going.

Graduating from law school was only part of the challenge. Seymour failed the bar exam twice. After her second unsuccessful attempt, she turned to her therapist, hoping he would tell her it was okay to give up. Instead, he reminded her that everything she wanted was waiting just beyond her comfort zone.

Determined not to abandon her dream, Seymour studied once again. On her third attempt, she passed the bar exam and officially became an attorney. She says earning the right to practice law remains one of the proudest accomplishments of her life because the difficult journey made the achievement even more meaningful.

After becoming licensed, Seymour worked briefly at an established law firm before deciding to start her own practice. She founded Camino Law, a bilingual firm specializing in family law. Today, the firm employs seven women and focuses on providing compassionate legal services, particularly to women and Spanish-speaking clients.

Rather than simply practicing law, Seymour wanted to build a workplace where employees felt supported and clients felt heard, respected, and understood during difficult moments in their lives.

Today, she takes pride not only in building a successful business but also in creating career opportunities for other women. She recalls being warned that the legal job market would be challenging when she entered law school. Instead of waiting for an opportunity, she created one herself.

Looking back, Seymour says she feels grateful for every chapter of her life from becoming a mother and adopting a child to changing careers and building a thriving law firm. She believes each experience prepared her for the next, and after years of searching, she has finally found the work she was always meant to do.

Her story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to chase a lifelong dream and that determination and perseverance can turn even the most unlikely ambitions into reality.

Woman starts law at 47 builds thriving all women firm

Woman starts law at 47 builds thriving all women firm

Woman starts law at 47 builds thriving all women firm

Woman starts law at 47 builds thriving all women firm

Woman starts law at 47 builds thriving all women firm

Woman starts law at 47 builds thriving all women firm

Woman starts law at 47 builds thriving all women firm

Woman starts law at 47 builds thriving all women firm

Woman starts law at 47 builds thriving all women firm

Woman starts law at 47 builds thriving all women firm