Nicole Bechard

Growing up, I was always interested in law enforcement and solving mysteries. To that end, I studied Criminal Justice and Sociology in college with the intention of becoming a police officer. About a semester before graduation, I realized that the police academy wasn’t the right direction for my future, but still had a significant interest in both Criminal Justice and the law. Upon graduation, I was hired as an Emergency 911 dispatcher. During that time, I also decided to continue my education and enrolled myself in a post-baccalaureate program for Paralegal Studies. While studying for that certificate, I left my employment as a dispatcher and worked in the local trucking industry, focusing on logistics, routing, and driver management. While this may seem like an odd pivot, it would come in handy later.

I moved from Michigan to Missouri in 2006 and shortly after my move, I was hired on at The Reynolds Law Firm as a Legal Assistant, moving my way up to Paralegal upon the completion of my Post-Baccalaureate Certificate a year later. My prior experience in both emergency dispatching and logistics, combined with the hands-on learning as a Paralegal, provides me with a unique ability to handle the significant emotions involved in Family Law related matters, to be a level presence to navigate clients through the process, and to manage all the background work that needs to be done in cases – all at the same time.

I’ve recently celebrated my 15^th consecutive year working directly for Attorney William H. Reynolds and The Reynolds Law Firm, LLC. I’ve stayed working for the Firm this long because I appreciate and believe in the Firm’s approach to the Family Law process. The attorneys at the Firm truly want the best for their clients, all while setting realistic expectations, providing targeted advice, and compassionate care. The attorneys have a unique ability to adapt their approach based on what the case needs – not every case needs a “bulldog” approach and more often than not, a collaborative, cooperative approach works best.

When I’m not at work, I’m involved in the local Kansas City running community, moderating an online group for social runners and I’ve participated in over 125 races since 2013, including two half-marathons, three duathlons, and countless 5K and 10K races all across the metro. When I’m not training for races, I can be found rooting for both my local KC sports teams and my hometown Detroit sports teams.

Education:

• Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, December 2001,
  • B.A. Criminal Justice and Sociology (Double Major), Magna Cum Laude.
  • Golden Key National Honor Society
  • Speaker Pro-Tem, Western Student Association
  • Member, Criminal Justice Student Association
• Davenport University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 2007,
  • Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies