Emily Smith Writing Sample – Profile Mainbar and Sidebar SEO: Carrathers, Verizon lawyer, discusses career, family Summary: Chuck Carrathers took a somewhat unorthodox path to law school and a successful law career after a poor childhood. Exceeding expectations How one corporate lawyer made a name for himself By: Emily Smith

Growing up in an upstate New York suburb in the 1960s and 1970s, Chuck

Carrathers was unsure of where his life might be headed.

“We lived in a trailer for a few years,” Carrathers began when asked about his

childhood. “My parents would let me play outside but would tie a rope around my waist

and connect it to a pole near our trailer so I wouldn’t run into the road. My uncle Ray

used to joke that I was a puppy and would pat me on the head when he came to visit.”

Given Carrathers’ less than modest upbringing, one may never predict that he

would become a prominent west coast lawyer. Carrathers, now general counsel for

Verizon Communications in Thousand Oaks, Calif., took a rather unorthodox path to

success.

Carrathers’ first exposure to the legal world was through his mother, who worked

as a secretary for a local lawyer when Carrathers was a child.

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The beginnings of a lawyer

“The lawyer my mom worked for would sometimes drive her home and take us

out to a hamburger place where he ordered from a speaker,” Carrathers said. “I thought

that was so cool. More significantly, his car had push-button electric windows, which I

had never seen before. I thought, ‘Being a lawyer would be great.’ A bit shallow, I know,

but I was only 8.”

“We never had much money growing up,” Carrathers clarified. “So I knew I

wanted to break free of that and I chose to really apply myself in school.”

Carrathers said his primary goal growing up was escaping his family’s poverty

and make something of himself to help his family. He stressed that in addition to

attending school every day, he had several responsibilities at home. He and his sister, the

eldest of the seven, would watch the younger children and essentially parent them while

their parents were off at their own jobs.

A promising future

Carrathers graduated from Rush Henrietta High School, and attended SUNY

Geneseo near his hometown of Henrietta.

“My first 2 years of college were less than spectacular grade-wise,” Carrathers

said of his time at Geneseo. “I learned I wasn’t ready, so I took a year off and moved to

Williamsburg, Va. My best friend from high school was there, so I started a new life.”

This break turned out to be exactly what Carrathers needed.

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After a year off, Carrathers was accepted to Virginia Commonwealth University

in Richmond, where he met some of the people who changed his life and steered him in

the right direction.

“I learned to be even more independent. I always enjoyed classes such as history,

philosophy and political science. This reinforced my interest in the law and helped me

prepare for law school down the line,” Carrathers said.

Carrathers’ faculty advisor at VCU, Dr.

Holsworth, taught in the political science honors

program and encouraged Carrathers to apply to the

major program given his interest in history and

politics.  

“Dr. H. played an important role in teaching

me political philosophy and introducing me to legal

philosophy,” Carrathers said. “I took most of my

classes with him… these courses and experiences

also helped me develop a small interest in law

school.”

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Carrathers excels as a lawyer in Thousand Oaks, Calif. – a far cry from his upstate N.Y. upbringing. Photo by Ann Carrathers

Seizing every opportunity

As he proceeded through the political science program, Carrathers interned in the

office of the mayor of Richmond, Henry Marsh. Later, Carrathers interned for Charles

Robb, then-governor of Virginia. Both of these officials were lawyers, Carrathers

explained, and discussed law school as a realistic possibility for Carrathers. Carrathers

credits Marsh and Robb with motivating him to attend law school.

Carrathers also credits David Baldacchi, his VCU classmate and now a famous

author, with motivating him to attend law school.

“Baldacchi is a brilliant, tireless worker,

Carrathers said of his former classmate, “but we both

enjoyed writing and arguing and encouraged each

other to pursue law school. Baldacchi took the same

courses as I did and was also interested in law school

and we talked about it often.”

Carrathers graduated from VCU with a B.A.

in political science in 1982.

“I knew I had to do well in college, so I found

a school I could afford and did well,” Carrathers said

of VCU. “I knew I had to pay for everything myself,

so I planned to get – and was lucky enough to receive – a full scholarship to law school.”

Carrathers credits his wife, Ann, and their 2 children with keeping him motivated today. Photo source: Facebook | Ann Carrathers

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Carrathers attended law school at the University of Richmond, where he met his

wife, Ann.

“I was an undergraduate journalism student at Richmond and I was lucky enough

to meet this handsome law student,” Carrathers’ wife, Ann, said. “I was fascinated by his

story and how far he had come.”  

Carrathers credits his success and happiness to his law career and to his family.

“When I was kid I had no idea where I’d end up,” Carrathers said, “but I like to

think I’m doing pretty well for myself.”

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Emily Smith Sidebar– Carrathers

SEO: Chuck Carrathers of Verizon has family to thank Family first West coast lawyer says he owes all success to his family By: Emily Smith

Chuck Carrathers has always considered family a key to his success.

“Almost every big decision I’ve ever made has revolved around my family,”

Carrathers said. “Growing up, and now… nothing has changed in that regard.”

Carrathers grew up in upstate New York the second oldest of 7 brothers and

sisters, whom he helped to support by taking several jobs. These jobs, Carrathers said,

helped foster his interest in history and political science.

Odd jobs

Some of these jobs were working at McDonald’s, a pizza parlor, and various odd

jobs through his father’s temporary help agency.

“My favorite job was when I was in 9th grade, two years before the Bicentennial,”

Carrathers said. “The Tennessee Ernie Ford Freedom Train – a train that toured the

country with various exhibits of American history – came to Rochester, and I was on the

cleaning crew. We worked midnight to about 6 am, and then I walked home and went to

school. It was tiring, but fun, and it piqued my interest in history.”

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Taking responsibility

Carrathers eventually decided to break free of his upstate New York upbringing

and attend college and then law school in

Virginia, where he earned a full scholarship.

“We didn’t have much money but we had

a lot of kids, Carrathers said, “so I had a lot of

responsibility early on, and most of the money I

earned went to the family for groceries.”

Now, Carrathers acts as general counsel

for Verizon Communications in Thousand Oaks,

Calif. He says he has come a long way, and owes

that to his family.

“I have two daughters and a wife, Ann,” Carrathers said. “Looking back, these

experiences growing up helped me – you realize you can’t expect things to be given to

you … you need to take responsibility and earn your own way.”  

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Today, Carrathers tries to give his children the lives they deserve. Photo by Ann Carrathers