Behind every case at Fresh Start Family Law is an attorney who chose this work on purpose. We sat down with associate attorney Brian Walsh to talk about custody battles, marathon training, cooking, and what he wants people to know before they ever pick up the phone.
Let's start at the beginning. Where are you from?
I was raised in North Canton, Ohio, but my roots are in Annapolis, Maryland. That's still home to me. North Carolina has become home too, though. I came here for law school and never really considered leaving.
You ran track and cross country in college. Does that show up in how you practice?
More than I expected it to. Distance running teaches you that the thing you're doing today probably won't pay off for months. Family law is the same way. Cases take time. Clients want it resolved yesterday, and I get that, but the work is showing up consistently and staying patient when the process is slow. I've hung up the spikes, but I still run marathons, so apparently I never learned my lesson.
Why family law?
I think of it as a calling. People come to us during the hardest stretch of their lives, and they're not just looking for a legal answer. They need someone who takes it seriously and treats them like a person. Good lawyering matters, obviously. But so does compassion, and I don't think you can do this job well without both.
What types of cases do you focus on?
Child custody, child support, and domestic violence are where I spend most of my time. I also draft a lot of separation agreements.
Domestic violence cases carry a lot of weight. How do you approach them?
I represent the person who was hurt. That's a deliberate choice. These clients are often scared, exhausted, and second-guessing whether anyone will believe them. My job is to make sure they're heard and to move fast on the protective steps the law allows. I'd rather be the person who picks up the phone at 4:45 on a Friday than the one who tells them to call Monday.
Separation agreements come up constantly. What do people misunderstand about them?
That they're just paperwork. A separation agreement decides support, property, and often how you'll parent for years. People sign things they don't fully understand because they want the conflict over with, and then they're stuck with terms that don't work for them. Slow down on that document. It's worth it.
You do pro bono work with Legal Aid of North Carolina. Why make time for that?
Because plenty of people who need a family law attorney can't afford one, and the outcome shouldn't come down to who could write the retainer check. I started doing clinic work at Campbell in the Gailor Law Family Litigation Clinic and the Blanchard Community Criminal Law Clinic, and I wasn't interested in stopping once I had a license.
You chaired the Diversity Committee at Campbell and were involved with Lambda Law. What did that come from?
I've always thought the legal system works better when the people inside it reflect the people it serves. Lambda Law was about supporting LGBTQ+ students and attorneys and making the profession a place where they actually want to stay. I'm a proud ally, and that carries into how I practice.
What do you want LGBTQ+ clients to know about working with this firm?
That you don't have to explain or defend your family here. We've represented gay and lesbian clients, and the work is the same work: custody, separation, property, adoption. What changes is whether you feel comfortable telling your attorney the whole story. You should be able to.
What are you doing when you're not working?
Cooking, mostly. I like the part where you follow a process and something good comes out the other end. Otherwise I'm snowboarding, spending time with my family, or watching sports. Go Canes.
Your bio ends with a Dumbledore quote about finding happiness in dark times. Why that one?
Because it's honest about the situation my clients are in. Nobody walks into a family law office on a good day. But there is a version of life on the other side of this, and it's usually better than the one they're leaving. Part of my job is helping people see that light while they're still in the middle of it.
Last one. What would you tell someone who's thinking about calling a family law attorney but hasn't yet?
Call earlier than you think you need to. Most people wait until something has already gone sideways, and by then we're playing catch-up. An early conversation costs you an hour. Waiting can cost you a lot more.
Talk to Brian
Brian Walsh handles family law matters at both Fresh Start Family Law offices, including custody, child support, domestic violence, separation agreements, and property division.
Raleigh: (919) 849-5744 Wilmington: (910) 606-6211
Reach out today to schedule a conversation.