Courtroom Cowgirl, Who Dat?

Stephanie Griffey is one cowgirl and attorney you won’t forget! She’s spicing her regular business attire up by adding some cowboy boots, blazers with fringe, and don’t forget the turquoise. Stephanie is a wife, a momma to two little ones, a western influencer, a barrel racer, she lives the western lifestyle and is an attorney. Stephanie is a power woman and she is simply known as the Courtroom Cowgirl. Be sure to check Stephanie out and follow her on Instagram, @courtroomcowgirl!

Stephanie was born in Pocatello, Idaho and that’s where she resides now. Stephanie first got the idea of becoming a lawyer in high school, she was interning with the legal counsel to the governor of the state of Idaho and got the opportunity to work with a lot of attorneys there. Her internship consisted of a lot of writing and legal research.

Stephanie vividly remembers one of the attorneys had asked her if she had thought about going to law school. That put the idea of becoming an attorney into her mind. At the time of her internship, she didn’t know that she wanted to become an attorney, she wasn’t sure if it was something she was into or not. Time went by, Stephanie graduated high school in Kuna, Idaho then went to college for her bachelor’s degree at the College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho. During her time getting her undergraduate degree she decided that yes, she wanted to pursue law and go to law school. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in Business and Fine Arts she applied and got into law school at the University of Idaho, College of Law in Moscow, Idaho. 

Stephanie currently focuses on equine law and family law. When Stephanie was in law school she wasn’t sure what exactly she wanted to do with it, but one thing was for certain, she’d always had a knack for writing, public speaking and she had the skills to be a great attorney. Stephanie got her first job out of law school as a public defender. Stephanie is so glad she took the position because she was in court every single day, several times a day. She was presenting and speaking in front of judges on behalf of her clients. The entire experience really propelled her for the future of her career.

You must be curious as to how Stephanie ventured from being a public defender to now specializing in equine law. Stephanie had the position at the public defender’s office then she transitioned into an associate position at a private law firm. In this position, Stephanie was required to meet certain billables and found it difficult to find a balance between being present as a mother. Stephanie wanted to be able to pick up her children from daycare, have time to be a cowgirl, and live the western lifestyle.

During one summer, Stephanie had gone to a horse show with a bunch of her friends and family. That’s where it struck her, she had been chatting with a friend about her work life and her friend asked her, “Why don’t you do this horse law thing?” and then boom from there it was a done deal. Stephanie followed her heart, she quit her position as an associate. She had taken some time off in between transitioning jobs for maternity leave for the birth of her daughter. When Stephanie was ready she came back in high spirits with her very own law firm, Griffey Law specializing in equine law. Stephanie is one of the very few attorneys in the country who practices equine law and she’s brought a lot of awareness and attention to equine law because of her social media. 

This is Stephanie’s third year of her own firm, Griffey Law. Stephanie is a power woman and is a one-woman band at her law firm. Stephanie has taken on an intern these past few months which has been a really cool opportunity. She had an application process for it and invited anyone who was interested to apply. She really enjoyed seeing all of the interest in the position. Stephanie wants to continue having opportunities for internships in the future for individuals.

“I’ll continue to provide internship opportunities so that others can gain legal experience from my law firm.”

Stephanie Griffey

You might be wondering what types of cases equine law may consist of well Stephanie has broken them down into two types of broad cases. The first would be the preventative type, so before there has really been an issue or a legal issue those are the preventative type cases. They would include a lot and mostly contract writing, for example, boarding facilities come to Stephanie, and they’d like a contract for their boarding facility. It often includes a release of liability waiver, some consulting on the Idaho equine liability law, how to stay safe and stay out of trouble, and how to reduce liability. The first is preventative, the second is resolving issues and disputes once there has been a problem and an encounter with the law. The most common type Stephanie sees in this area is buy and sell disputes. For example, someone bought a horse, Stephanie’s seen this happen to $3,500 horses all the way up and exceeding $60,000 horses. These clients may have had issues with that sale or the purchase and so they come to Stephanie to try to work it out through whatever means they need to. In each of those categories in cases, those are the most common clients and cases she’ll receive. 

When Stephanie has a case, she doesn’t necessarily get to meet the horse of the case but she certainly is very familiar with the horse. Stephanie gets to know their story including their past and be a part of their journey which is very rewarding to her. In some cases, though it can provide a lot of conflict of interest as a lawyer because Stephanie may know so much about the horse. For example, the horse has gone through multiple owners, Stephanie’s been involved in the vet check, and she kind of knows what issues it may or may not have. It’s kind of an interesting legal niche in that regard because that aspect is so small and the horse community is so small that Stephanie can be so involved with a horse and its journey that sometimes she may know too much. At that point, she has to step out as an attorney and say, “I have a conflict of interest.”.

With equine law, Stephanie is almost never in court because financially and realistically it needs to resolve outside of court. The case can go to court and it has gone before but not often. It’s not like other legal disputes where you’re getting a divorce or you’re charged with a crime and you almost have to go to court and spend that money.

“I’ve always been a cowgirl, I’ve always been around horses, and I’ve got more boots than anything else.”

Stephanie Griffey

When Stephanie got out of law school and became a public defender she’d spice up her business attire by bringing out her cowgirl side. She was not afraid to be a showstopper in the courtroom and bring in her cowgirl style mixed with her profound attorney skills. Stephanie had previously been into fashion a lot, she had just started posting on social media and sharing her outfits. Stephanie was sharing what she was wearing as a lawyer and wearing into court. It really took off from there and since then Stephanie has really pivoted her influencing because she doesn’t find a lot of satisfaction in just clothes and fashion. Stephanie has transformed her influencing into sharing her lawyer side as well as her cowgirl way of life.

“I began by sharing pictures of my western fashion in the courtroom, but my sharing has grown into something I enjoy much more — sharing my lifestyle, family, and career.”

Stephanie Griffey

Stephanie would go to court dressed in her suits, cowboy boots, blazers with fringe and turquoise. She would see how people were responding to her in a positive way. Naturally, Stephanie branded herself in a way and thought this is unique and she just went for it. Stephanie was asked what her favorite thing about being an influencer and an attorney was,

“I love helping and inspiring people. I get to do so in both my capacities as a lawyer and a western lifestyle influencer”

Stephanie receives a lot of messages from people saying they’re surprised she can be both a lawyer and a cowgirl because people see being a lawyer as such a demanding profession. Many lawyers are only lawyers and they almost have to be because that’s how the profession is. Stephanie loves being able to influence people letting them know that it is possible but you’ll just have to make some changes to work every day towards balancing the lifestyle you want.

“Yes, you can be a lawyer and a cowgirl. It is possible.”

Stephanie Griffey

Stephanie has been riding horses ever since she was a little girl. Her mom grew up on a ranch, she was a rodeo queen, she took her horse with her when she went to college and got married. When Stephanie was born she rode her moms’ horse and eventually ended up with her very own horse. From there Stephanie grew a love and passion for horses and just accumulated more.

“As I get older, horses become more important and more impactful in my life.”

Stephanie Griffey

Stephanie had done a lot of barrel racing when she was a little girl. She started barrel racing when she got her very own horse named Moe for her 11th birthday. Not only did Stephanie do barrel racing, but she also did pole bending, junior rodeoing, was a rodeo queen, and did goat tying. She was the strongest at goat tying and then as Griffey got older she started reining, reining cows, cutting, she tried out dressage and O-Mok-See.

Stephanie learned a lot of horsemanship skills and became a better horseman from those different disciplines. Griffey made the transition back into rodeo, she’s done local associations, some amateur pro rodeo associations, and a lot of barrel racing jackpots. Just last year Stephanie has started pro rodeoing with the WPRA which stands for the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. 

Stephanie met her husband, Justin at a horse show in Idaho. Stephanie and Justin got married and have two children, a son, Jace who is five years old, and a daughter, Jentry who is three years old.

Justin & Stephanie Griffey – Credit: Mike Reid Photography

Justin is from Kansas, he owns a wind turbine maintenance and repair company, 300 Feet Wind, and similar to Stephanie, he’s always ridden and been around horses as well as farm animals throughout his life. Justin is into roping and Stephanie is into barrel racing so naturally, they wanted their children to have those experiences as well so they’ve got some furry family members. Stephanie has a mini horse named Super Duper that her son named. Stephanie stated, “My little daughter will put him on the lead rope, the halter, and run him around the property. She’ll take him into the house, he’s like a 300 lb puppy dog. He’s the cutest, sweetest, and most gentle thing.” They also have a goat, horses, and some family dogs. Stephanie and her family have a big heart for their furry family members.

Stephanie Griffey & her children, Jace & Jentry – Credit: Nathan Latimer

“Animals teach my kids confidence and responsibility. They’re constantly outside leading around Super Duper, closing gates so the cows don’t get out, chasing the goat or helping feed.”

Stephanie Griffey

Stephanie Griffey & her children Jentry & Jace

“Our animals, land, and this western lifestyle give my family so much joy. I can’t imagine raising my kids any other way.” 

Stephanie Griffey

Justin & Stephanie Griffey, & their children, Jace & Jentry – Credit: Makayla Shepard Photography