believed in the power of law to help make
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“Heather worked in a law firm and
a difference in people’s lives.”
www.ParalegalToday.com Q3 - 2017 9
Miller Law Group Bankruptcy Division
Manager Alfred Wilson hired Heyer.
“Heather was introduced to me by one of
her friends, who was an employee at our
office,” said Wilson. “I was looking for
an assistant, and her friend told me she
would be great.”
Heyer had no paralegal experience,
but Wilson, who is not a lawyer, said he
decided to meet with her anyway.
“During the interview, she kept
emphasizing that she only had a high
school diploma and had never worked in
an office,” Wilson said. “She had been a
waitress and bartender, and she told me
she could make $200 in tips a night. I said
‘you must be a good conversationalist’
if you can make that much in small
establishments.”
“In our line of work at the firm, we do
have to listen to a lot of people’s problems
and be compassionate and understanding
in order to get people to open up,” he said.
“So I decided to take a chance. I later found
out she did not know how to type either.”
Heyer started at the firm on July 31,
2012, and Wilson said she quickly became
indispensible. “One thing that amazed me
about Heather was that she was a student
of learning.” Wilson said. “She was always
looking to learn something new and she
would stay late to learn whatever she
needed to do. That was a big plus.”
“She was the front office paralegal,
which means she was the first person
that our bankruptcy clients would see,”
said Wilson. “When she started she did
not know anything about bankruptcy,
but she picked up very quickly.”
“Heather went to all the continuing
education seminars, and I would say
within two years she knew more about
bankruptcy than any attorney in our
area,” Wilson added. “Over the last year
or so, she would correct me on things. It
was great. I never needed to look over her
shoulder because she took so much pride
and ownership in her work.”
As time went on, the two developed a
close working relationship. Wilson said
Heyer was very observant and would
often offer insights about clients from
her initial meetings with them.
“I remember one time, she advised
me that my client was a breast cancer
survivor based on certain physical
characteristics that she observed,”
said Wilson. “She was a great listener
too, and she would advise me of
things I would need to know after her
conversations with clients. This is
something I wish all paralegals would
do. Even when a paralegal is great at
their job, it does not mean the person is
a good listener.”
Marks said Heyer’s work ethic as a
paralegal was not any different from the
way she conducted herself as a bartender
and server.
“Heather was always friendly and
efficient,” Marks said. “She was very
particular about having everything
right so no one needed to look over her
shoulder. She was always very perceptive
and she never overtalked a table. She
could make small talk, but she knew when
it was time to walk away.”
Wilson recalled Heyer’s dedication
to equality, saying she always believed
everyone should be treated fairly, and
that she refused to be in the company of
anyone who discriminated against others.
“Heather actually broke up with a
guy she was seeing because he had a
problem with the fact that I, her boss,
whom she spent so much time with, was
African American,” said Wilson. “I was
shocked when she told me she did that.
I told her she did not need to do that,
but she said that she did not want to
be around anyone who did not treat all
people the same.”
Wilson said her loss has been hard
on him personally and has left a void
in the office. After Heyer’s death, a
GoFundMe page was started to raise
money for funeral expenses. Wilson said
that within 48 hours, over $200,000 had
been raised.
“Her mother freaked out because
she did not know what to do with that
much money,” Wilson said. “I suggested
she start a foundation to help minority
or underprivileged women reach their
goals. After her mother and I talked
further, I contacted an attorney friend of
mine and a few other people, and within
four days we had everything we needed
to set up the foundation.”
In late August, her mother, Susan
Bro, announced the launch of the
Heather Heyer Foundation to pay
tribute to her daughter’s legacy.
The foundation has established The
Heather Heyer Foundation Scholarship
for Paralegals, Social Workers, and
Educators. Scholarships will be
awarded annually to those accepted or
currently enrolled in an ABA-approved
paralegal program or ABA-accredited
law school, an undergraduate social
work or social justice-focused degree
program, or an undergraduate
educator-focused program.
Applicants can apply via the website
at https://www.heatherheyerfoundation.
com, which lists the specific
qualifications. Applications must be
completed by February 15, and the
recipient will be announced at the
Heather Heyer Foundation annual
meeting in April.
“The whole firm is working with the
foundation,” said Marks. “Whatever we
can do to help her mother out we will do.”
The Oklahoma Bar Association
Bankruptcy and Reorganization Section
made a charitable contribution to the
foundation. Andrew R. Turner, chair of
the section, said the board of governors
decided to make a donation after they
realized that Heyer did bankruptcy work.
“We were very saddened by what
happened,” said Turner, a partner in the
Tulsa office of Conner & Winters. “We
thought it would be an appropriate way
to commemorate
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/www.heatherheyerfoundation