Bold steps
Corporate Law
Tricia Dunlap, L’11, is living the boldest version of herself, surrounded by a great support system and optimistic about what lies ahead. A former high school teacher, she entered law school at age 40, inspired by professors and mentors who recognized her potential during her undergraduate studies in political science.
“They saw a young woman in their class who was able and willing to go toe-to-toe and argue political philosophy,” she said. “I’ll be forever indebted to them for that because it planted the idea.”
With nudging from a close friend and support from her parents, Dunlap took the LSAT. She graduated cum laude from Richmond Law. She founded Dunlap Law in September 2015.
Every time you do something bold in your life, it gets easier.
An expert in corporate law, Dunlap now focuses her time on “future-proofing” her firm by finding ways for her staff to connect with and serve their clients more effectively. For example, the firm launched subscription plans. “There is a real fear that small-business owners have about calling an attorney because they don’t know what it’s going to cost,” she said. “We want our clients to talk to us every time they have a hard decision to make. It’s included in their subscription.”
Named a 2023 Women’s Business Center of Richmond POWERful Women Honoree and a Richmond BizSense 2024 RVA Power Woman, Dunlap advocates for authenticity — and a little grit — when pursuing one’s aspirations. “Every time you do something bold in your life, it gets easier,” she said. “And you get better at recognizing fear for what it is and saying, ‘I’m doing it anyway. Every time you do that, it opens the door to the next bold thing.”
Dunlap has her eyes peeled for her next bold thing. “My journey has been to get me where I am now, and I know I’m not done,” she said. “There’s another chapter out there. I’m not going to stop. When I stop growing, you’ll know that I’m toes up.”