Like many, Corrin Fulton’s family celebrates the holiday season with familiar traditions, but they take things a step further. And farther.
Forget about Black Friday Shopping. The day after Thanksgiving, the Chattanooga area-lawyer, along with her husband Scott, and three sons – Sammy Joe, 11; 15-year-old Liam; and Alex, 23 – kick off the holidays with a nice, long hike.
Here’s what she has to say about her business, her family, and her traditions.
Q: You practice family law. Have you always wanted to become a lawyer?
A: As a young child, my mother and I watched movies that had female lawyers and she said I’d become a lawyer someday. Now I do family law–everything from prenups to divorce, adoption, and custody issues. I started in 2010 and worked with a couple of different firms before starting my own business in 2017.
I get to work with people in our community on a very personal level and help them restructure what their family looks like, and my life experience has enriched my practice. I was the youngest of four, brought up in poverty, and my parents divorced when I was 7. I feel like I'm able to relate to people a lot better and help my clients navigate important transitions in their lives. My own life experiences have shaped the way I approach my work-with empathy, understanding, and a commitment to helping families find a positive path forward.
Q: Your law practice is, coincidentally, also a family affair?
A: Yes, my husband works with me as an office manager and legal assistant. Working with a spouse has its ups and downs, but with respect to our family, we have the most freedom because he works in the office with me. I stay so busy doing my work and he does as well, so we don’t interact much during the day as husband and wife.
Q: Why is hiking a holiday tradition for your family?
A: Our family does a lot of outdoor activities and we hike all year long, but the holidays are an especially beautiful time to go hiking. On Thanksgiving, we have a huge feast with my extended family, and my family hikes the next day. Being out in nature is the best way to experience thanksgiving and feel thankfulness in your heart. It can be hard to drag the boys away from their electronics, but once we do, they love it! We also bring our two little dogs, Rex and Jack, with us.
Q: You’ve got some favorite hiking spots. How did you choose them?
A: As a child, my school took field trips to Red Clay State Park, so I’ve known about it for a long time. It is along the Trail of Tears and there’s a flame that’s always burning as a memorial for all of the Indians that followed the trail. It also has Blue Hole Spring, a pool that flows into Mill Creek, which was used by the Cherokee for their water supply during council meetings. It’s got a sign that describes how the Native Americans believed it to be an entranceway to the underworld. It just has so much history.
We also love Bauxite Ridge Trail, near the old Apison Elementary School. We like to go to spots people don’t know about and this one’s a hidden gem with very few hikers back there at all. We have the whole trail to ourselves.
Q: Any second thoughts about sharing these secret places that are so special to your family?
A: “I thought about that! I thought, ‘Oh no, I am gonna give it away!’ But other people are going to get to enjoy it so I’m at peace with letting the secret out.”
Learn more about Corrin's practice at: corrinfultonlaw.com
“Being out in nature is the best way to experience Thanksgiving and feel thankfulness in your heart.”