From Litigator to Librarian to Entrepreneur: A Mother’s Unexpected Journey

Introduction by Erika Hanafin:

Life often unfolds in ways we never anticipate, weaving the unexpected into the fabric of our journeys. For my friend Lauren at Storylock Legal, the story began with a perfectly laid plan: a thriving legal career, a growing family, and a roadmap to success that she thought she could chart down to the smallest detail. But as I’ve learned from her incredible journey, life’s greatest lessons—and opportunities—can arise when our carefully planned paths are upended.

Her story is not just a reflection of one mother's journey through a transformative moment but a testament to the resilience we uncover when life takes an unforeseen turn. It’s a story about recalibrating, redefining, and rediscovering what truly matters.

From Litigator to Librarian to Entrepreneur: A Mother’s Unexpected Journey

By Lauren Bercuson

My legal career started in the fast lane. As an intellectual property attorney, I navigated complex matters in stilettos and power suits, building a practice around protecting other people's creative work and business dreams. The path seemed clear: make partner, build my book of business, climb the ladder. Career success, marriage, home ownership - all the pieces were falling into place exactly as planned. Landing a clerkship with an appellate court judge seemed to validate every careful step I'd taken. It was during this clerkship that I had my boys, and life took an unexpected turn.

A new baby was coming! With pregnancy came the natural urge to plan and organize... everything. By week 20, I had the nursery design perfected, every corner thoughtfully arranged. One month later, I'd researched every baby blog imaginable and curated the perfect registry of gizmos and gadgets. By week 35, I'd packed and repacked my hospital bag so many times that I could recite its contents as quickly as the pledge of allegiance. I had my maternity leave mapped out to the day - twelve precious weeks with my newborn before returning to my clerkship, where I'd pick up right where I left off. I knew the Gymboree class schedule, where the music classes were, and which libraries had story time on which mornings. My little one's shelves were filled with beautiful books before he even arrived.

But sometimes, life has other plans. Sometimes, despite the perfect ultrasounds, the easy pregnancy, and all the carefully plotted spreadsheets ensuring your return to work would go smoothly, things happen that are totally and hopelessly outside any realm of possibility you've ever imagined. In an instant, your meticulously planned maternity leave transforms into something entirely different. And life feels totally and hopelessly out of control.

I should know. It happened to me.

When the Unexpected Happens: Navigating Life After a Perinatal Stroke

When my newborn baby had a perinatal stroke at just ten days old, everything I had planned during pregnancy went out the window. Instead of Mommy and Me classes, I was rushing my infant across town from therapy appointments to doctor appointments and back again. I learned more about the inner workings of the brain and motor development than I'd ever cared to know, coming home each day feeling lost, scared, and anxious. I could have fallen apart — stranger things have happened — but instead, I did the one thing that felt right: I turned to story. Reading to my sweet boys became the one thing in our suddenly off-kilter world that I could make sense of. Story became our sanctuary during those uncertain days. 

My judge graciously extended my maternity leave, giving us precious extra time to navigate this new reality. During those long days of therapy and doctors' visits, I found myself diving deeper into children's literature, starting a blog to review and share the most powerful stories with other parents and caregivers. These weren't just books – they were lifelines, not only for us but potentially for other families navigating their own challenges. But eventually, my extended leave came to an end, and I had to return to the demanding world of legal practice. Back at work, I found myself mentally drifting during complex legal arguments, wondering if my son was doing his exercises, if he was making progress, if his therapists had any new concerns. The demands of legal practice while juggling therapy appointments and specialist visits became unsustainable. Something had to give.

After about a year of this delicate balancing act, an opportunity arose that seemed almost too perfect: becoming the librarian at my boys' school. It felt like divine intervention. Not only could I stay connected to my love of stories, but I could coordinate my son's therapies - physical, occupational, speech - right on campus. Between reading sessions with students, I'd participate in his therapy appointments and work with his teachers to incorporate new skills into his classroom routine. This unexpected pivot gave me exactly what we needed: flexibility, proximity, and purpose.

Building a Practice with a Purpose

As my boy grew stronger and more independent, I felt a familiar pull back to law. But this time, I knew it had to be different. Through my children's book blog, I'd connected with countless female founders and creators who were pouring their hearts into building their brands, yet didn't know how to legally protect their hard work. I needed the freedom to practice law on my own terms - to be my own boss and create a schedule that could flex around my children's needs, especially my son's ongoing therapy appointments.

My experiences had shaped not just my path, but my entire approach to practicing law. The passionate entrepreneurs I met through my blog - the moms building businesses between bedtime stories, the creators turning their dreams into brands - showed me exactly who I wanted to serve. I launched Storylock Legal with a clear vision: helping business owners, especially women who'd taken leaps of faith like I had, protect their intellectual property while building genuine, lasting relationships.

Today, my trademark practice, Storylock Legal, reflects everything this journey has taught me - the importance of flexibility, the power of genuine connection, and the understanding that every business has a unique story worth protecting. I work with founders to secure their brands in a way that combines legal excellence with real human connection. This isn't just about filing trademark applications; it's about helping entrepreneurs protect their legacies while building my own, on my own terms.

Sometimes life's biggest challenges lead us exactly where we need to be. My path from litigator to librarian to law firm owner wasn't traditional, but it led me to create a practice that truly resonates with who I am - as a mother, an attorney, and an advocate for others' dreams.

Lauren’s story is a powerful reminder that even when life doesn’t go as planned, we have the strength to adapt, evolve, and find purpose in unexpected places. Her journey from intellectual property attorney to librarian to law firm owner exemplifies how resilience and passion can transform challenges into opportunities.

Whether you’re balancing career ambitions with personal challenges, navigating an unexpected detour, or simply seeking inspiration, this story offers a heartfelt example of the power of flexibility and determination. Life’s twists may be unpredictable, but they often lead us exactly where we need to be—and show us what we’re truly capable of achieving.

Let’s celebrate moms by supporting each other’s businesses. If you’re ready to protect your business and secure your brand with personalized trademark services, visit Storylock Legal today. Discover how Lauren can help safeguard your legacy with expertise and care.

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