ASU Law grad continues legal journey at the place where it started

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2021 graduates.

Emily Gale Tooher is no stranger to the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. As she graduates this fall with a Master of Laws with an emphasis in human resources and employment law, Tooher reflects on when she earned her Juris Doctor from ASU Law in 2019.

“I knew from the moment I applied to take the LSAT that I would do anything and everything it took to get my law degree from ASU. And I did just that,” said Tooher, also a graduate of the W. P. Carey School of Business at ASU. 

A sixth generation native of Arizona and owner of Tooher Law in her hometown of Chandler, Arizona, Tooher is passionate about building on her legal education to best serve her community – and she has no plans of slowing down.

“ASU Law’s curriculum, the professors, faculty and the programs are what brought me back to the school for my LLM,” she said. “And I am not done yet ... I am just getting started.”

Question: What is the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

Answer: We all have a story of why we went to law school and what got us here. Never forget the reason why you started. Never forget that there are people out there who need help and who need our services. Give back. Volunteer. Reduce your prices for those in need. The world is unfair enough as it is, and our profession has the luxury of being able to help with truly only a minimal inconvenience. Don't withhold that gift from the world. 

Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU Law — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective? 

A: It's not about what you know, it's about who you know. It still amazes me when I have a question that a mentor doesn't know the answer to. It happens all the time. That's what is so great about our profession. It doesn't matter how much you study or how much you think you know, you can never know it all. That's why it is so important to network and have mentors in our profession. Even my mentors have their own mentors, and that is such a beautiful thing to be a part of.  

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: I own a law firm in my hometown of Chandler, Arizona. I plan on continuing to expand the services we offer so we can better serve our community. We're in the process of creating a formal modest means department to allow us to serve low income and indigent demographics in my hometown of Chandler, Arizona. My hope is to have a fully operational modest means department by the beginning of 2024, ensuring that legal services are readily available to all residents of Chandler, Arizona, that are in need.

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: Forty million wouldn't be enough, but if I had endless money to solve a problem on our planet, I would aim to end poverty. I would work toward developing an infrastructure to completely eradicate poverty as well as create perpetual sustainability.