ELIZABETH PORTER LAW - Key Persons
Elise Seale is our newest team member. She is a licensed attorney in D.C. and in Mississippi. As a Hattiesburg native, she is excited to bring her legal expertise to her hometown to serve the community she loves. Elise is a skilled and experienced researcher, writer, and litigator-and a great asset to our legal team.
Elise holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. She possesses a wide array of experience in commercial, contract, and public interest law. Elise began her career at Polsinelli, P.C., a nationally ranked law firm, as a Government Contracts and Commercial Litigation Associate in Washington, D.C., and Nashville, TN. During law school, Elise worked with many public interest legal organizations, including the Mississippi Center for Justice and the D.C. Jail and Prison Advocacy Project at University Legal Services. Additionally, she participated in the Civil Rights Clinic at Georgetown. Elise is a member of the D.C. Bar Association and has been published in the National Law Review.
"Advocating for our clients and making sure their voice is heard is the most rewarding part of the job," Elise said, "The legal process can feel foreign and difficult to navigate, but it's our job to help clients understand what to expect and make sure they feel as ready and confident walking into the courtroom as possible."
In her spare time, Elise enjoys reading, making Spotify playlists for every occasion, drinking coffee, and spending time with her dog, Cash (who is named after the Man in Black, of course).
Haylie Gillespie, EP Law's legal intern, helps keep the firm running smoothly by visiting local courthouses, filing documents, and assisting our legal team with any client needs. A member of the Oak Grove High School graduating class of 2023, Haylie's dream is to follow in the footsteps of her grandfather, former attorney George Gillespie, Jr.
In her spare time, Haylie enjoys going to the gym, spending time with her family, traveling, and reading classic novels.
An experienced paralegal with a passion for helping clients successfully navigate their legal situations, Heather Smith conducts legal research, drafts documents, and ensures that client cases adhere to legally required timelines. Heather holds a bachelor's degree in paralegal studies with a minor in criminal justice from the University of Southern Mississippi, and she has worked in family and criminal law for over a decade.
"Being a paralegal gives me the opportunity to help others, many of them suffering through the hardest experiences of their lives. It is very rewarding to help someone during a difficult process and see the benefit they receive from our firm's services," Heather said. " I love being a part of this firm because I get to work with a group of people that not only have a passion for the legal profession but also have a passion for helping others."
Outside of EP Law, Heather enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Chevy and Sadie, and re-reading the Harry Potter series.