‘The very first two yrs of law school, I was homeless’ | Army veteran rises to Elite Law firm honors

INDIANAPOLIS — From dwelling less than a bridge off Meridian Avenue to being named a 2020 Elite Law firm, Mark Nicholson explained he knew he had to surround himself with supporters and constructive influences in get to increase to his destiny.

At the age of 32, Nicholson enrolled in law faculty. He claimed his age gave him a different point of view.  

“Some of the youthful college students might have imagined this was the most challenging detail they had at any time faced,” said Nicholson. “I had already been as a result of a whole lot of worries.”

As an Military and National Guard veteran, a single of people worries occurred throughout Nicholson’s three a long time in the military services.  

“Being in Panama, not recognizing if you ended up likely to get shot or killed,” explained Nicholson.  

He claimed that fewer than a year immediately after coming household, he “was billed in 1991 with murder and convicted of voluntary manslaughter.” 

“Prison was not a welcoming atmosphere. Persons had been becoming killed, there ended up medicines,” stated Nicholson.  

He claimed he served 12 a long time powering bars.  

“Being gone for so extended and then currently being launched, with I believe, at the time they gave you $70, that is all I experienced,” mentioned Nicholson.  

With just $70, Nicholson was homeless, “living under a bridge outdoor, off of Meridian.” 

But he was not providing up. 

“When you are at the bottom, they say the only (other) way is up. So I knew at some issue, my lifetime was heading to increase as extensive as I hold performing at it,” stated Nicholson.  

Nicholson mentioned he manufactured the acutely aware option and work to encompass himself with a favourable assistance technique.

“When things are bad, a person can be a damaging affect and suggests, ‘Things are lousy, yeah, give up.’ But when you have a optimistic community, men and women can inspire you to hold struggling, hold preventing and function to boost your self,” reported Nicholson.  

He explained that he located power by means of his religion and made a decision to glance for function knowledge.  

“I did not have a task, so I thought, ‘I will need occupation practical experience,’” mentioned Nicholson. “So I contacted the ACLU of Indiana and asked if there was just about anything I could do.”

He said he didn’t disclose to them at the time that he was homeless.  

Then a single day, he claimed he observed a man handing out flyers and inquiring for funds. Nicholson reported men and women have been just strolling past the male, ignoring him. Nicholson determined to get just one of the flyers. It was for HVAF, a domestically-based firm that supplies assistance and solutions for homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness.  

He stated he named HVAF, who explained they didn’t have any person standing handing out flyers, but that they could help him. To this working day, Nicholson refers to the mystery person as his angel. 

Nicholson shortly landed an appointment for transitional housing with HVAF. The appointment was at the Horizon Household. Nicholson’s appointment conflicted with his volunteering agenda at the ACLU, and he mentioned that is when he advised the ACLU office environment he essential to make an appointment at the Horizon Residence for transitional housing. He said Kenneth Falk informed him he had no idea Nicholson was homeless and that he inspired him to be guaranteed to make the appointment.  

It is crystal clear that Falk was a key impact on Nicholson’s existence, simply because Nicholson employs the ACLU of Indiana’s lawful director’s title almost interchangeably with the firm.  

Nicholson reported it was via the assist of organization like HVAF, the Horizon Property and the ACLU of Indiana in which he volunteered, that he was in a position to come across that positive supportive community he was hoping to create.

Nicholson said he can not exactly describe what drew him to regulation. 

“I just felt God set it on my coronary heart to go to law school,” stated Nicholson. He said he did not grow up seeking to be a attorney, but one thing called him to legislation. And at the time it did, he allow go, took a leap of faith and enrolled in regulation university. 

“I didn’t have any contacts, did not know any attorneys. I went to the IU McKinney Faculty of Regulation and manufactured get in touch with with Professor Mary Mitchell, and that was the commencing of my journey to law university,” mentioned Nicholson. “The initial two years of legislation college, I was homeless.”

Even though having evening classes at regulation school, Nicholson began functioning for the duration of the working day. He said he picked up a part-time task at Marshalls and then eventually worked as a bailiff at the Marion County Courtroom. He reported he would take a bus to his transitional housing. 

“Living in (HVAF’s) transitional housing, I created the dean’s record for a semester, next year I was class president and the final 12 months they voted me as the graduation speaker,” mentioned Nicholson.  

Although Nicholson under no circumstances understood he was going to be a law firm, looking back again on his everyday living, it seems to be as although his present vocation path was constantly section of his future.  

“When I assume back to my time in prison and becoming what they call a ‘lay advocate’ and symbolizing persons in prison, to submitting all these grievances, to working at ACLU, all that, it was like God was making ready me for my contacting now as an attorney,” stated Nicholson.  

Nicholson reported his activities make him the attorney he is nowadays. 

“Being homeless and likely to legislation faculty gave me a distinct standpoint than some of my classmates,” and now a unique point of view as a lawyer. 

“Everybody has a tale, and I can fully grasp some of the trials and tribulations they are heading by means of,” explained Nicholson. “Because of that expertise of what I carry to it, which is why I struggle so hard for my clients. Which is why I really do not want to give up. That is why I feel in them.

“And I know no make a difference what they’ve accomplished or what they’ve been accused of and may well not have even accomplished, they can convert their life around and do great for this place, for this group, for them selves,” mentioned Nicholson.   

This year, Nicholson was named a 2020 Elite Law firm. 

“It exhibits you how great The us is, inspite of all the discrimination, racism, jail, homelessness, there is nonetheless chance for us to excel in lifetime and defeat road blocks. My tale is just an case in point of what we can do when we place our mind to it, have religion and have a fantastic assist network,” he stated.