Olivia was born with cerebral palsy, resulting from negligent medical care in her delivery.
When she was 8 years old, Attorney Paul Perantinides and his team at Perantinides & Nolan, Co., L.P.A., (P&N) represented Olivia and her parents in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Now, Olivia, 19, is working as a summer intern at P&N as she prepares for her second year at Malone University as a biology major — and for a career in helping children with disabilities.
Looking back
Olivia’s parents initially sought legal counsel and representation from Perantinides upon recommendation from a friend. Olivia fondly remembers meeting Perantinides when she was a little girl.
“I remember Paul being great,” she says. “One time he took us to get ice cream after one of our meetings.”
Since then, Olivia and her family have kept in touch with Perantinides, remaining “close friends” with him and seeing him at Christmas parties and other gatherings.
Working at P&N
This past spring, when Olivia was having difficulty finding part-time summer work, she reached out to Perantinides.
“Because of my physical disability, I had trouble finding somewhere I could work, so I actually called Paul and said, ‘If there’s anything you want me to do, part-time over the summer, I would love to help out.’”
Perantinides offered her a position working with the office manager and front-desk receptionist, in which Olivia has been able to gain valuable experience, seeing how lawyers serve clients, including those with disabilities, “behind the scenes.”
“I love the atmosphere, and everyone is so personable,” she says. “I feel like I’m learning a lot about what lawyers go through, how much they do — they do so much! — and it’s been cool to see it behind the scenes.”
Looking ahead
This fall, Olivia will begin her second year as a biology major, on the pre-med track, at Malone University, with the intention of someday serving children with disabilities.
She says that, while she does not plan to work in the legal field, her experience at P&N has been relevant to her future, as both she and Perantinides in fact share the same goal: “Giving people the best care.”
“Paul and the lawyers here really care about you and your whole family and not just winning a case,” she says. “I feel like even after your trial is over and your case is closed, they still care about you and keep in touch, which I don’t think other law firms really do.”
Ultimately, her experience at P&N has strengthened her resolve to pursue her dreams and not let her disability define or hinder her. She hopes others with disabilities can adopt the same mindset.
“Your disability isn’t your entire identity. It’s just something about you. I believe that God makes everything happen for a reason; and it may sound cliché, but if you want to do something, you have to go out and try. You can’t just sit back and wait for it to come to you. Don’t let the negative thing that happened in your life define you and hold you back.”