Dana Brooks

Managing Partner and Shareholder, Fasig Brooks Law Offices

Dana Brooks is managing partner and a shareholder at Fasig Brooks, where she combines her legal expertise with a deep commitment to advocacy and community service. A graduate of Florida State University (BSW, cum laude) and FSU College of Law (magna cum laude), she has built her career representing clients with compassion and tenacity. Brooks has been recognized among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers and Florida Legal Elite and is an inducted member of the Tallahassee Community College Alumni & Friends Hall of Fame. She is also the author of Functional Feminism: An Apolitical Guide to Women’s Empowerment, and has hosted legal and community-focused television programming. Known for her pro bono work and mentorship, Brooks is driven by a belief in empowering others to thrive in the face of adversity.

Describe a defining moment or achievement in your career.

I was sworn in to be a lawyer at 11:30 a.m. and a partner of a 30-year-old established law firm at 4 p.m. on the same day. I don’t know anyone else who has ever done that. It was so important for me to succeed because something like that puts a target on your back. You have to perform well because people wonder how you got that opportunity, and some people are looking for you to fail. It’s really motivating.

How do you define success?

Controlling my calendar instead of my calendar controlling me. I think a lot of professionals, and women in particular, take on additional responsibilities on top of professional responsibilities. You can get to where you’re living for your calendar. That’s not good or healthy. It stunts creativity and takes joy out of your life. When I got to the point where I controlled my calendar, I knew I was successful. I mentor a lot of people and tell them to make sure they have plenty of time in their calendars to make mistakes, to experiment, to create. You can’t grow a business or yourself if you are scheduled all the time. You have to have room for exploration and creativity.

What motivates you? 

Obligations to other people. A lot of people are counting on me to perform. I must get things done because I am holding up other people if I don’t perform. I’m also naturally curious. If I’m curious about something, I want to meet people who know things I don’t know and learn from them. Curiosity is a great motivator.

Tell us about a time when you were met with a crossroads decision. How did you face that? 

I had to decide whether to continue a partnership or grow and go in another direction. At the time, I was comfortable with the size of the company and the people on the team. My partner was really excited about growing, and I wondered if I wasn’t afraid, would I do it? The answer was yes, so I said, “Let’s do it.” Once I decide I’m going to do something, I’m all in. There were some bumps along the way, but we’ve experienced overwhelming success since expanding.

What advice do you have for young women pursuing their careers? 

Do your thing; create your own path. A lot of women do want to be mothers—it’s not an either-or thing. Don’t think you have to go the career route or the mommy route. If you’re smart and have resources, you can do both beautifully. Many women opt to outsource with helpers, shoppers, and drivers. They aren’t outsourcing what’s important. They are at every awards ceremony, every game, helping with the science experiments because they are asking for help and thinking differently about how they do things. Use your resources to have the life you want.