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Building a Legacy Through Helping Others: A Conversation with Ashleigh Madison
- meghancochrane
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
From the More Than a Lawyer Podcast with Christy Crow - Listen to Episode 31
On the latest episode of More Than a Lawyer, host Christy Crow sat down with Ashleigh Madison, a top-rated personal injury attorney and founder of Southeast Law, LLC in Savannah, Georgia. Ashleigh is a Savannah native who returned home to build her practice, and in this episode she opened up about her legal career, her most memorable courtroom moment, and, most importantly, why she makes time to give back to her community.
A Practice Built on Helping People
Ashleigh describes her work simply: she helps people who have been personally, professionally, financially, or emotionally injured. Her caseload spans medical malpractice, product liability, construction defects, and motor vehicle collisions, but no matter the case type, the goal is the same: fighting for people at some of the hardest moments of their lives.
That work came with an unforgettable story. Years ago, Ashleigh represented a couple displaced from their home after mold made it uninhabitable. When the case went to trial, the jury returned a verdict of $1 billion, a number the judge sent back for correction, since the jury had actually intended to award $1 million. The mix-up earned Ashleigh a lasting nickname among colleagues: "the $1 billion lawyer."
Why Lawyers Need More Than the Law
Running a small firm, raising a family, and representing clients in crisis takes a toll. Ashleigh spoke candidly about how the emotional weight of legal work can wear on attorneys over time, and why she believes stepping outside the practice of law, into community work that has nothing to do with a courtroom, is essential for a lawyer's mental health and sense of purpose.
Her advice for staying involved without burning out: pick a few causes that genuinely speak to you, rather than spreading yourself thin across everything.
The Causes Close to Ashleigh's Heart
Brightside Children and Family Advocacy — Each year, Ashleigh sponsors children through Brightside's holiday wish-list program, which supports kids who have experienced abuse and neglect. It's become a family tradition with her daughter, Hazel, who helps pick out gifts and has fully embraced the cause as her own.
Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia — Ashleigh supports this regional food bank's Bite2Go program, which provides meals to school-aged children during summer break and holidays, when food insecurity for kids often spikes. She's also a regular at two of Second Harvest's signature fundraisers: the Tour de Epicure, a trolley tour through Savannah's best restaurants benefiting the food bank, and Jewels & Jeans, an evening auction and tour of the Second Harvest facility.
Union Mission — After watching two of Savannah's largest homeless encampments get cleared to make way for new development, Ashleigh saw firsthand how quickly people can lose access to shelter and stability. That experience drew her to Union Mission, which provides housing, mental health counseling, and a safe place to rest for people experiencing homelessness in Savannah.
Her Advice for Getting Involved
Ashleigh's advice for any lawyer, young or experienced, looking to give back: start by asking. Ask a mentor what they're involved in. Ask friends, colleagues, even opposing counsel, what causes matter to them. And if nothing comes to mind, a simple search for local programs can turn up more opportunities than you'd expect.
More Than a Lawyer
When asked what it means to be "more than a lawyer," Ashleigh's answer centered on legacy and on finding meaning beyond casework by making a difference in other people's lives, in whatever way you're able to give: time, money, or simply showing up when someone needs help.
Listen to the full episode of More Than a Lawyer with Christy Crow, featuring Ashleigh Madison, available on YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Learn more about Ashleigh Madison:
