Welcome
Do you ever find yourself scratching your head when you see the latest Facebook meme or political post? Do you have difficulty differentiating between truth and fiction? You are not alone. With the prevalence of disinformation, it is hard to know what is true or false.
Explore the latest legal insights, stay informed about law, politics, and government matters, and engage with my diverse collection of podcasts and blog posts. Join Attorney Sandra Finch Russell (“Sandy”) in uncovering the most pressing legal issues and expanding your legal knowledge.
About Your Host, Sandy Russell
Sandra Russell (“Sandy”) is an attorney with 23 years of experience practicing law. She has handled numerous cases in many different areas of law which gives her a broad range of legal knowledge that most attorneys do not have. Sandra has been both a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, where she gained extensive experience in criminal trial practice. Later, Sandra handled hundreds of family law and domestic cases before branching into civil litigation to include personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, products liability, insurance bad faith, contract disputes, real estate litigation, estate litigation, and class action and federal qui tam cases. Sandra’s broad range of experience is unique as most lawyers today tend to specialize in only one area of the law. This is a testament to Sandra’s work ethic and willingness to learn new areas of the law to meet the needs of her clients.
Sandra is a dedicated trial lawyer and a strong advocate for the preservation of the Seventh Amendment Right to A Civil Jury Trial, which has been significantly eroded by the Judiciary and the legislature through tort reform (aka “wrongdoer immunity”), forced arbitration, and other procedural rules that obstruct the people’s right to access the courts and a jury of their peers. Unnecessary costs assessments and “loser pay” penalties further limit the people’s access to the courts. As a result, it is harder and harder for the people to receive justice in the court system.
Biography
I grew up as one of four children in a hardworking blue collar family. My father was a truck driver, and my mother dedicated herself to raising us. We didn’t have much money, but we had plenty of determination—and that would shape my entire life.
With an older brother as my first playmate, I was a natural tomboy. I refused to accept limits based on gender and took on every challenge that came my way. While other girls played softball, I played baseball—and I didn’t just play; I became the first girl in my little league to make the All-Star team. That drive to prove myself and push boundaries never faded.
College was never a given in my family. My father made it clear that he couldn’t afford to send all of us, so he wouldn’t be paying for any of us. It wasn’t something I dreamed of anyway. My first job was milking 268 dairy cows twice a day, and at the time, college felt like a distant world.
But life has a way of forcing you to find new paths. At 17, I became a single mother to my daughter, Madeleine. Suddenly, education wasn’t just a dream—it was a necessity.
Determined to create a better future for us, I enrolled in classes at a local branch of the University of Akron while working multiple jobs to pay tuition. My family couldn’t provide financial support, but they helped in every other way—babysitting, fixing my old junk cars, and always standing by me. I eventually transferred to the main campus and, after nearly five grueling years, earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Medical Technology. My plan was medical school. But life had another, much harsher twist in store.
When Madeleine was seven, she was killed in an accident. The devastation—both emotional and financial—was overwhelming. For over a year, I was incapable of functioning. Without the support of incredible family and friends, I would have been homeless.
The legal issues surrounding my daughter’s death ignited a new passion in me. I saw firsthand how one tragic event could push a family to the brink of bankruptcy. I realized that I wanted to help people navigate these crises. That’s when I decided to become a lawyer.
I was accepted to the University of Georgia School of Law, where I juggled full-time night shifts at Athens Regional Hospital while attending law school during the day. Despite working 30 or more hours a week, I graduated with honors.
Since then, I’ve represented countless clients in personal injury cases and other areas of law. I have prided myself on representing the little guy, the damned and forgotten. I’ve experienced the sorrows of other families who have lost loved ones due to the negligent acts of others and I have shared in their struggles to get justice. I’ve stood before many judges—some exceptional, some not.
Why My Background Matters
My blue-collar upbringing instilled in me the values of hard work, perseverance, and accountability. I wasn’t handed opportunities—I had to create them. I know what it means to struggle, to fail, and to pick yourself back up without making excuses. I’ve lived through unimaginable loss, and that has given me deep empathy for others who are suffering. When I advocate for my clients, it’s not just legal work—it’s personal. I understand the pain of losing a loved one, the fear of financial ruin, and the frustration of fighting a system that often seems stacked against ordinary people. These experiences don’t just make me a better lawyer; they make me a better advocate, a better thinker, and a better voice for those who need one the most.
My education, personal hardships, and versatile legal career have given me unique perspectives on the law, justice, politics, and government. At the end of the day, these things are not just about power–its also about how these things impact people. It is my hope that I can help educate people on the current state of law, government, and politics—and the real-world consequences that mainstream media often ignore.