2014 Most Influential Women Honoree: Becky Borthwick

Becky Borthwick can’t say she’s done everything a lawyer could possibly do, but she’s worked her way through many of the myriad options.

Borthwick has been a solo practitioner and a managing partner. She’s practiced both private and public law across a plethora of practice areas, from criminal defense, personal injury, family law and trusts to bankruptcy, juvenile law and workers’ compensation. She’s a member of the bar in four states, and has hung her shingle in rural Nebraska, urban New Orleans and southwest Missouri.

And a year ago, Borthwick was sworn in as municipal judge for the 31st judicial court in Greene County.

Borthwick grew up in Cedar County, and was the first in her family to attend college. Her mother worked at a garment factory in Stockton to supplement income from the family hog farm, and her parents ran a small business upholstering furniture.

“Because of the work ethic instilled by my parents and a fantastic education at Stockton, I was able to attend college at the University of Missouri and then completed law school at the University of Oklahoma,” Borthwick says.

“My oldest child was born during my last year in law school. Since that time, I have always had a full-time law practice ... and have raised a family.”

She’s represented civil plaintiffs and defendants as well as criminal defendants and has been lead counsel in a variety of cases, ranging from trying small auto accidents to advising large corporations on multimillion-dollar title insurance claims.

As managing partner at the Springfield office of Franke Schultz & Mullen PC – her last position before assuming her judgeship – Borthwick supervised three attorneys and five staff members while overseeing the office’s direction and traveling extensively to maintain client relationships.

“As managing partner of a law firm, I have had an opportunity to influence many young attorneys,” she says. “I have hired new attorneys straight out of law school and patiently helped them make that transition from law school to practice. I was always very proud when they took their first deposition or participated in their first hearing.”

Borthwick also has mentored attorneys outside her practice, allowed many middle and high school students to shadow her and judged mock trials.

“I try every single workday to help those members of our community before me to be successful by helping them set obtainable goals and providing both negative and positive consequences for their action,” she says. “I do this in an approachable but firm manner.”

Borthwick attends activities for Ozarks Literacy Council and serves as a judge for Greene County Teen Court.[[In-content Ad]]