Attorney Laura Dodge was recognized as May’s Monday Member Spotlight for the New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association.
Laura practices in the Corporate and Real Estate departments. She is Vice Chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group and Vice Chair of the New Hampshire Bar Association, Real Property Law Section. Laura’s practice involves representing individuals and businesses in various commercial and residential real estate transactions, including acquisition and sales, financing, leasing, landlord/tenant matters, easements, title work, condominium formation and governance, and land use, including planning, zoning and permitting. Prior to working as a transactional attorney, Laura worked as a litigation attorney assisting clients with a wide variety of business and civil litigation matters.
Community service, volunteerism and pro bono work has played an important role for Laura throughout her legal career. She currently serves on the board of directors of local non-profit organizations, participates in various community service activities and frequently volunteers her time on pro bono matters. Laura volunteered numerous hours as a pro bono attorney assisting a local non-profit with the acquisition of residential property to provide transitional housing to women who are struggling with trauma, substance abuse disorders, mental health disorders, domestic violence and homelessness. This work resulted in her being awarded the McLane Middleton’s 2021 Jack B. Middleton Pro Bono Service Award. Laura is also active in the firm and currently serves on the Hiring Committee, Professional Development Committee and acts as a mentor to junior attorneys.
Laura received her J.D. from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law, magna cum laude (2001), and earned her B.A. from the University of Southern Maine in Criminology with a minor in Political Science, cum laude. Prior to law school, Laura received her Certificate in Paralegal Studies from Bentley University, summa cum laude. While in law school, Laura was a judicial extern law clerk for The Honorable Norman H. Stahl, United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. She also was an Editor for the RISK: Health, Safety & Environment Law Journal.
Laura has written various articles on real estate topics and has authored the New Hampshire Chapter for the State-by-State Guide to Commercial Real Estate Leases, Wolters Kluwer, 2017 edition – to the present.
Laura is admitted to practice in New Hampshire, Maine and her application to the Massachusetts Bar is currently pending.
Her advice to young attorneys entering the profession, is borrowed from a message delivered during a commencement speech by the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist in which he delivered advice from the older generation of lawyers to the younger ones: The most priceless asset that can be accumulated in the course of any life is time well spent. Find balance with your professional and personal life, and spend your time wisely.