Why I Lawyer: Q&A with David Pennant III

Why did you decide to become a lawyer?

I have always been interested in the intersection of business and law and the transformative nature of the law in pursuing equality in the courtroom. I believe that pursuing equality in business leads to a more equitable society. To that end, it has been very rewarding to advise small business owners on legal issues as part of my pro bono practice and to work with emerging fund managers to ameliorate the disparity in venture capital funding to Black and other underrepresented founders of companies building solutions for marginalized communities.

How has being a lawyer helped you in other areas of your life?

As a lawyer, you quickly learn that you should rarely take a problem at face value. The legal field teaches you to question and seek out the underlying issues that may be impacting the problem and to be creative in crafting solutions. Being a lawyer has helped me take a much more reasoned approach in my daily life while becoming more creative as I try to find solutions.

How do you enjoy spending a day off?

During my days off, I enjoy staying active in nature, whether hiking or golfing. In addition, I enjoy mentoring student athletes from my high school football team through the nonprofit my former teammates and I established to guide them through the college application process and other challenges of being a college student.