This month, Ashley was proud to be featured by the Military Officers’ Association of America(MOAA) for her work with military spouse businesses.
Ashley Marshall is an attorney and a registered mediator. She is also the wife of an active duty Air Force pilot. After years of moving around the country and changing jobs with each move, Ashley started her own law firm, Cranford Marshall Legal, LLC, in Alabama. Now, Ashley is able to maintain consistency in her career, even if her family is faced with another PCS.
Ashley has a general law practice, and she dedicates part of her practice to serving military families by helping them navigate the legal waters of starting their own businesses. Ashley and her family are currently stationed at Fort Rucker, Ala.
Q. What’s your military story?
A. My husband, Lt. Col. J.B. Marshall, and I have known each other since seventh grade, but … we did not start dating until later in life. I had heard that J.B. was deployed, and I sent him a message thanking him for his service. He must’ve been bored as we began messaging back and forth on a regular basis. After he finished his one-year deployment, we started dating and were engaged two months later.
J.B. is an active duty helicopter pilot in the Air Force, and our first duty station together was Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Wash.
Q. Tell us about your business.
A. I am an attorney and registered mediator who hopes to make the lives of my clients a little bit better. I have a general practice in Alabama, but am also licensed in Washington and Oregon, and anticipate being licensed in other states in the future. I can help clients with all of their legal needs, including domestic relations, business formation, estate work, litigation, and just about anything else that comes up. One caveat is that I don’t practice criminal law — I’d rather focus on other underserved areas of law. I’ve also devoted part of my practice to helping military families successfully start businesses. The legal requirements and regulations involved with forming businesses can be intimidating for some, so I like to make the process as easy as possible so my clients can concentrate on the business itself.
Q. What inspired you to start your own business?
A. Being the mom of two little boys. I have been blessed during this move to have been offered some awesome opportunities; however, in looking at those opportunities, it was evident that I wouldn’t be able to be as present for my children as I wanted to be. … By starting my own business, I could build my career around my children and watch them score soccer goals, be the mystery reader at school, and attend school field trips. I could be in control of my own schedule.
“By starting my own firm, I realized I had a better chance of retaining continuity in my career.”
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