Cameron Fathauer is an Attorney at Schad Law, which is based in New Albany, Indiana. His legal specialties include personal injury, traumatic brain injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, wills, trusts, and other estate-related work. Born and raised in Columbus, Indiana, he shifted from aspiring to be a minister to pursuing a career in law after a life-altering accident. A husband, father, and community leader who has overcome severe personal challenges and actively promotes mental health awareness, Cameron is a proud graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. He has also written and published articles for the American Bar Association and authored an upcoming book called Saving the Subject: How I Found You When I Almost Lost Me.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• [1:27] How Cameron Fathauer turned a catastrophic injury into a career in law
• [4:39] What prompted Cameron to pursue legal practice despite a background in theology?
• [5:07] The impact of a brain injury on emotional and mental health
• [9:58] Cameron’s innovative approach to traditional estate planning
• [17:59] The benefits of combining personal injury and estate planning practices
• [26:20] Navigating the Bar exam after a brain injury: a testament to perseverance
• [44:16] The importance of providing personalized, client-focused legal services
• [49:31] Cameron’s approach to using AI in a legal practice to improve efficiency
• [50:15] How Cameron’s upcoming book ties in deeply with his personal experiences and philosophical beliefs

In this episode…

Has adversity ever thrown you a curveball that made you question everything? What if the very path you were on was suddenly shattered, forcing you to rebuild your identity from scratch? How do you find resilience when faced with the seemingly impossible?

Cameron Fathauer, a youth minister turned formidable attorney, channeled adversity into advocacy. Through a gripping recount of the accident that brought his life to a standstill, Cameron unveils the uncanny resilience that propelled him from hospital beds to law school benches. He shares the critical role of his supportive family and the intersection of personal challenges with professional ambitions. Amidst discussing legal intricacies and technological advancements, he previews his upcoming book — a quest for identity against the backdrop of personal catastrophe and recovery. We delve into his integration of deeply personal experiences with his ministry background, culminating in a unique legal practice encompassing personal injury, wills, estates, and beyond.

On this episode of Circle City Conversations, Alex Limontes interviews Cameron Fathauer, an Attorney at Schad Law, about overcoming life-changing challenges. They dive into Cameron’s transformative experience, discussing the details of his accident, the aftermath, and how it reshaped his goals. Cameron also explores the integration of AI in a legal practice, the significance of respect and authority in the law industry, and the importance of empathy in helping others. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Alex Limontes: LinkedIn | Bio | Facebook 
• Hurst Limontes LLC
• Cameron Fathauer: LinkedIn | Website
• Schad Law
• Matthew Schad on LinkedIn

Quotable Moments:

• “Law school is a very unspiritual thing.”
• “The doctors told me, ‘The hardest things for you, Cameron, are going to be higher-level thinking — executive function.’”
• “Being an attorney is less about the title and more about being a pillar in the community.”
• “Your identity is not in what happens to you, but in how you respond and who you’ve always been.”
• “The book is very much about the identity question: Who am I always?”

 Action Steps:

1. Embrace change: Embracing unexpected life changes can be a pathway to discovering a stronger sense of purpose and resilience. Cameron Fathauer’s shift from theology to law and his response to a traumatic injury illustrate how adaptability in the face of adversity can lead to significant personal growth.
2. Prioritize mental health: Actively seek support and engage in conversations about mental health, especially following major life disruptions. As Cameron shared his experience with depression following his accident, prioritizing mental health becomes instrumental in navigating the challenges of recovery.
3. Leverage technology: Integrate AI into professional practices for greater efficiency and to handle a larger workload without sacrificing quality. Cameron discusses how AI helps him manage a blend of personal injury and estate planning cases, enabling enhanced service for his clients.
4. Maintain a work-life balance: Balancing a demanding career with significant personal responsibilities requires deliberate planning and support structures. Cameron’s experience of becoming a father to triplets during law school emphasizes the importance of balancing professional aspirations with personal commitments.
5. Build personal connections: Cultivate personal connections with clients and colleagues for a more meaningful and impactful career. Cameron’s approach to client interactions, grounded in sharing his personal story, builds trust and fosters deeper relationships that benefit those he serves.

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Hurst Limontes LLC — a personal injury law firm based in Indiana.

Founded in 1981, Hurst Limontes LLC is one of the few firms whose practice focuses exclusively on victims of negligence and their families.

With more than 116 years of combined experience among our attorneys, you can trust us to handle your cases with valuable and extensive expertise. We have the knowledge to handle any case — from automobile accidents to construction site accidents, firearm discharge accidents, slips and falls, and more.

No matter how complex the case or how significant the injury is, we aim to make the process as stress-free as possible for clients.

Our attorneys have represented thousands of injured clients and obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts.

Have you or a family member been a personal injury victim in Indiana? Contact our dedicated team of personal injury lawyers at hurstlimontes.com or email alimontes@hurstlimontes.com.