Heather-Ann Young

I was raised by hardworking parents. My dad was a gardener, he owned his own business and worked 6 days a week. I learned grit and hard work at a young age. I grew up in Redlands, California and loved school. In school I leaned in on my "gift to gab" and was a State and National champion in high school Speech and Debate. During high school, I was an active member of school leadership and held the roles of Class President and Community Service coordinator.

Growing up, I didn't know any lawyers, let alone anyone with a college degree. My leadership and debate skills paid off when I received a partial scholarship as a Presidential and Achievement Scholar to attend University of Redlands. While at the University of Redlands, I joined the mock trial team and competed at college campuses across the country. During this time, I trained and volunteered to be a Sexual Assault Advocate. As a Sexual Assault Advocate, I would answer calls from the police or hospital when a sexual assault survivor arrived at the hospital alone. I would go to the hospital and be with the survivor during their physical exam and advocate on their behalf.

After graduation from the University of Redlands with a major in Government and a minor in Women's Studies, I attended law school at California Western School of Law in San Diego. Four months before starting law school my dad died unexpectedly. Everyone told me to delay my start to law school. I knew that the delay is not what my dad would have wanted and not what I needed.

During law school I applied to be a Certified Law Clerk at the San Bernardino County District Attorney's office. I prayed that I would get accepted and got the gig. This clerkship confirmed my heart that I am meant to be an advocate for those injured or who have been wronged. I was able to second chair murder trials and conduct preliminary hearings. Sitting at counsel table as a young woman still in law school, I felt both the rush of adrenaline and inner confidence knowing this is where I was supposed to be.

I graduated from California Western School of Law, studied non-stop and passed the California bar on my first attempt. I started at Brayton Purcell as my first attorney job, I learned how to navigate civil litigation and all of the things they don't teach you in law school.

I worked for Brayton Purcell for a couple of years post-law school and then returned in 2022. I have been blessed to have mentors invest in me, including those from Brayton Purcell. I was two years out of law school when I second-chaired a trial ending with one of Brayton Purcell's largest verdicts. In October 2014, I represented Robert and Linda Whalen in a trial against John Crane, Inc. This was a six-week long trial in Alameda County, California. Robert Whalen was a U.S. Navy machinist who worked on nuclear submarines and was exposed to asbestos containing products. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in December 2013. The jury awarded him a total of $70.861 million to him and his wife for economic and non-economic damages.

What motivated/inspired you to become an attorney?