About Shane Kersh

Updated January 14, 2020 by Shane Kersh

There are so many blogs explaining who someone is-or wants to be. Almost every law firm has a site dedicated to telling people about the lawyers and support staff.

But, do these cookie cutter paragraphs really help folks understand who the person is? Not usually. Most of the time the potential client is limited to information such as; where the person went to law school combined with some stale, cliché comment about how much the practice of law means to them. Maybe the client is directed to Avvo, LinkedIn, Facebook, Justia, or Crunchbase, but usually there is very little telling folks about who the lawyer or person is, what he or she stands for, or how life has shaped him. You know; the good stuff.

So, I wanted to take some time to tell you who Shane really is. How I got here and who and what influenced me along the way. This blog wont’ be perfect. It’s not supposed to be. It won’t be sterile or contrived. The grammar may be incorrect, and the punctuation might be off, but that’s okay. Hopefully, the message will be clear, and you’ll know a little more about me than you did before.

Early Life

I was born in the mid-1960’s, and was raised in the town of Brazoria, which is in Brazoria County, Texas. Brazoria was (and still is) a quaint little town. Back then, I believe we enjoyed a population of less than 1800 people. Growing up we didn’t have a lot of money, but we had everything we needed. I grew up in a small two-bedroom, one bath home. But it never felt crowded or confined. It just felt like home.

I was blessed to have a great mother, father and younger brother. Of course, I had a tremendous extended family as well, and that always made holidays and get-togethers a marvelous time.

In 1985, I graduated from West Columbia High School and left that summer for the United States Army. Those days seem so distant. My wife Laura (much more about her in a moment) has amazing recall of our high school days. I, on the other hand, don’t seem to remember much of it. Perhaps, I should spend more time looking over our old high school annuals. Or maybe not.

Never a Straightforward Path

If there is anything such as a straightforward path in life, I certainly have never found it. Perhaps, that is because I have never really looked for it. For me life has come as one focused moment after another, with no real roadmap. To the best of my ability I’ve pursued my interest and avoided my indifferences.

I’ve never been one to settle for things being the way someone else says they should be. I suppose I’ve always challenged the norm, and to some degree the authority dictating the norm. For me, life has never been about following in the footsteps of someone or echoing a socially acceptable rant. I’ve always believed that life is about what you want it to be- not about what someone else thinks it should be.

Even getting through undergrad and law school was a non-traditional route for me. I decided in my thirties that I wanted more out of life. Maybe I decided that I needed to change my life…be better, be more. I always wanted to be a litigator. You know, trying the big cases and arguing the law. I wanted to challenge the establishment. Afterall, I had been through divorce and custody battles. I had firsthand experience in how much bullshit was involved with these types of cases. It wasn’t enough to simply voice my opinion or even scream my frustration. I had to do more to undue and remake the system.

The problem was that I was a father of two amazing children, working shiftwork with not a college credit to my name. I didn’t even have a basic understanding of college algebra or “composition and rhetoric”. What the hell was that anyway?

I knew I wanted to do something that very few people have ever accomplished, but I was starting with less than nothing. The odds (and quite frankly a lot of people) were against me. I was told it couldn’t be done. So, I said, “screw that” and did it anyway.

Getting out of the starting blocks was difficult. First, I had to graduate from college as a 30-something. Next, I had to maintain a GPA high enough to get into law school. Then, I had to take the LSAT (useless in determining if someone will be a good lawyer) and apply for law school. Oh, and of course I had to pay tuition, which is no small matter.

I started my college career at Brazosport Community College, and then transferred to the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Fortunately, I was able to complete my undergraduate degree in three years, and graduate Magna-Cum Laude with a 3.95 GPA. Then it was off to law school.

I attended and graduated from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas. Now pushing 40, I was considered a non-traditional student. I could have told them I was non-traditional, and it had nothing to do with my age. Law school was an experience. It wasn’t hard…there was just a lot of it. It also didn’t help that I was still employed full time trying to go to school on a full-time student curriculum. But things went well, and I graduated ahead of schedule. Now all I had to do was pass the bar exam.

While I passed the bar exam on my first attempt, I can say that it was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. I have never studied so hard for so long. Taking the bar exam was an ego shattering event comprised of sheer terror and emasculating anxiety. It truly was three days of torture. Thank God, I didn’t have to do it more than once.

After all the years and hard work, I was now a lawyer. I had done something that many people said was impossible. But who the hell were they, anyway…I’d done it. The question then became, “NOW WHAT”?

Into Private Practice

Not that I was ever really interested in going to work for a firm, but there isn’t a large market for a 40-something year old baby lawyer. Especially in the family law arena. But that was fine with me. I had my own ideas about what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do them. So, I did what most people would do. I gave up everything secure in my life and opened my own law firm. I had (and still do) every intention of becoming the best family attorney in Brazoria County.

The Kersh Law Firm  was opened and ready for business. The only thing I needed was an office, clients, and some inkling of what the hell I was doing. I had never taken on a real case.   Hell, I wasn’t even sure where to park at the courthouse…at least not the one in Houston. So, I started where many aspiring family lawyers start…with court appointed cases.

I remember my first case representing a parent against the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. You know? CPS. Being older and having actual life experience I was not intimidated or in awe of CPS. I saw them for what they were…a broken and corrupt organization that routinely abused their power and authority. I won my very first adversary hearing against CPS. I’d like to claim some sort of Perry Mason moment, but the truth is CPS is just a bully with a government badge. No more, no less. I was both disappointed and disgusted that our government could (and did) violate people’s constitutional rights without so much as batting an eye. I have never lost that feeling, and it’s why I still handle CPS cases today.

I made sure I took advantage of every avenue available to me. I was accepted into the Burta Rhodes Rayburn Inns of Court, where I met some amazing people and mentors. I joined the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, as well as the Texas Family Law Foundation.

I worked tirelessly to build the Kersh Law Firm using aggressive representation and customer service as my foundation. Everyday, I strive to be the best divorce and family attorney in Brazoria County, Fort Bend County, and Galveston County.

During this journey I’ve had cases that have been rewarding, as well as, frustrating. I’ve had cases that have gone all the way to the Court of Appeals, and cases that have received a great deal of media coverage, such as the Ferguson Case. But as with anything else, you take the good with the bad, and move forward.

I’d like to think that good ole’ Shane and the Kersh Law Firm have been proven and established as one of the best family lawyers in Brazoria and surrounding counties. I also have never believed in taking anything for granted. I’ll keep working hard to make sure we remain the best family law firm possible.

Nothing is More Important Than Family

I’ve learned that nothing is more important than family. I have been so truly blessed to have the family that I do. I have the best wife that any man could hope for. It’s kind of funny, but Laura and I have known each other since the 2^nd grade but have only been married for three years. Yes, it took awhile for us to re-connect, but I can tell you that the wait was surely worth it.

Laura is one of the most remarkable women I have ever met.

• She is an amazingly beautiful woman with hair that sometimes looks like Shaun Cassidy.
• She is loving and compassionate with a temper that can flash white hot.
• She is a tireless worker who likes to lay in bed, watch movies and have snacks.
• She wants to drive a Tesla but is stuck in the 1980’s.
• She likes to get on Facebook but does so from her iPhone 5.
• She would rather watch Gone with the Wind for the 100^th time rather than go see a movie from this decade.
• She is a runner who doesn’t really have much athletic ability.
• She gives so much to others but rarely does anything for herself.
• She is a risk taker but won’t go to bed until all our kids are home safe.
• She knows everything that is going on but must use three pairs of glasses to see.
• She can’t stand cat hair on the stairs but is fine with her own hair in the shower.
• She can still make an entire dinner with one hand, while holding Cora in the other.
• She deserves everything good in life, but she chose to love me instead.

No matter how much pressure and stress come my way, none of it matters when I’m with Laura. Somehow, I found her. Somehow, she decided to keep me. Laura is my inspiration and motivation. She’s the reason for it all.

We are also blessed to have our three children. Some might say we are a blended family. I think we are just a family.

Kadi, Tristen (from my marriage) and Kaleigh (from Laura’s first marriage) are wonderful people. All of them are better people than I could ever be, and I’m so proud of each of them.

Kadi graduated from Texas A&M in May of 2016. Kadi is a lot like me (although she probably won’t admit it) in many ways. But she is far better that I ever could be.

Kadi is married our wonderful son-in-law Derek. I’m also very proud to say that we now have the most beautiful grandbaby in all the world. Cora was born in April and I just can’t get enough of this gorgeous child. It’s one thing to be a parent, but it’s quite another to be a grandparent. I’m pretty sure that Cora will be spoiled beyond belief. I’m sure her mom and dad will really appreciate that.

Tristen is a current student at A&M, and a remarkable young man. He’s so talented and gifted. He’ has a huge heart, and a dry since of humor. He’s an amazing young man, and I can’t wait to watch him grow. He also has a beard. That’s kind of weird.

Kaleigh has an old soul. She is genuine and kind. She is caring and I love to hear her laugh. She is still innocent in many ways but has her own path to follow and isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Kaleigh, of course, is on her way to A&M. I’m looking to make it 3 out of 3.

And what kind of father would I be if I didn’t mention Evie. She’s my cat. She doesn’t know she’s a cat. She believes she’s just one of the family that doesn’t get to go on vacation.

My family is where it all begins. I love them all and I know they love me. That’s really all that matters.

And Finally…

There is much more to any person than one blog can communicate. Just like anyone, I have my ups and downs, good days and bad days. But I try to always remember who Shane really is. I’m just a man who tries to do the right thing and stand by what I believe in.

I represent my clients the same way I would represent my family. I always do the very best job I can for those that I represent. And I try to be the best man I can be. At the end of all of it, that has to be enough.

Updated January 14, 2020 by Shane

 

Kersh Law Firm