Celebrating Over 75 Years of Serving Nevada’s Legal, Business, Government, and Civic Communities
Veterans In Law: Attorney At Law magazine Special Issue
McDonald Carano would like to recognize and thank John Fortin for his ongoing service to our country. John is included in the “Veterans In Law” special issue published by Attorney At Law magazine that features 35 practicing attorneys across the country who served in the U.S. military. The special issue includes a Q&A with each attorney about their time in service and lessons they carry into their career as an attorney. John served 10 years on U.S. Navy active duty as a cryptologist and intelligence analyst and deployed to Afghanistan and South America. When he began law school, John transitioned to Naval Reserves where he continues to serve today. John’s Q&A is provided below and available as a PDF here.
Tell us about your transition from the military to the practice of law.
After 10 years of active duty service collaborating across the intelligence community but working specifically for the National Security Agency, I had been exposed to lawyers providing advice to commanders and flag officers throughout my operations and deployments.
After speaking with several lawyers, I realized that the same type of analysis I performed for intelligence, cryptology, and information warfare was expected of lawyers. The main difference being that lawyers typically deal with public filings on the docket of the courts and my time in the intelligence community was all behind closed doors.
How do you think your military service impacted your legal career?
When I deployed to Afghanistan, my work product would lead to life and death decisions. Now, my work product leads to monetary, injunctive or declaratory relief. The stakes are both very high, but understanding perspective makes the high stress nature of being a lawyer more manageable as I balance work and life.
What are some lessons you apply to your practice today?
I draw upon the lessons that were engrained upon me in the Navy. Honor, Courage, and Commitment are an ethos that I practice every day as I advance the interests of my clients. Being able to speak truth to power and persuade those decisionmakers to agree with my point of view is something that was taught to me very early in my career and I apply every day I enter a courtroom.
What drew you to the practice of law?
When I was in Afghanistan sitting around the commander’s table going through operations, intelligence, communications, and logistics, it always struck me that one of the last people to speak to the commander on a go/no-go operation was legal. I found it fascinating that the lawyers would distill every point of view and apply those facts to the law.
About McDonald Carano
In 2024, McDonald Carano celebrated its 75ᵗʰ Anniversary of serving Nevada’s legal, business, government, and civic communities. More than 60 lawyers and government affairs professionals serve Nevada, national, and international clients from our offices in Reno, Las Vegas, and Carson City. McDonald Carano provides transactional, litigation, regulatory, and government affairs services to startups, corporations, private companies, trade associations, nonprofits, public entities, high-net-worth individuals, and family offices throughout Nevada. We are deeply committed to supporting local communities by volunteering our time, resources, and services, including pro bono legal services, to nonprofit organizations, charitable foundations, and public service entities. We are proud to be your Nevada law firm since 1949.
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