University of Tulsa College of Law
Lauren Lambright knew from a young age that she would one day practice law.“The balance of justice and power is something innate in me,” she says. “But it’s funny that I always wanted to be a lawyer, because no one in my family practices law.”
From Runner to Reluctant Law Student
A Tulsa native, Lambright moved around during her early years before settling back in Oklahoma for middle school. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma, she worked as a runner for a plaintiff’s firm—“to see what working at a law firm and being in court truly felt like”—before attending law school at the University of Tulsa.
That hands-on experience helped Lambright push through the slog of law school, a period where she questioned her chosen path. “At one point, I wasn’t even sure I still wanted to be a lawyer,” she admits. “But school didn’t reflect my ultimate law practice or how much I love my career, so I’m very glad I stuck with it.”
Balance
Now approaching 18 years with Smolen & Roytman, Lambright values the firm’s flexibility for working parents as well as the chance to practice law in areas that align with her passions and values. She balances her dedication to her career with her “most important job” of being a mother, spending time with family and friends and cheering on her kids at sporting events.
A Legal Triumph in Equal Pay
On the professional front, one case involving a worker for the city of Tulsa stands out to Lambright as particularly gratifying. “Our client received promotion after promotion, yet found out she made far less than her male counterparts,” says Lambright, who settled the case and ensured the woman kept her job—along with a pay raise commensurate with her capabilities.“That one felt really good because our client felt vindicated and we got to see justice play out.”
Legal Advocacy With Empathy
When taking a break from fueling her passion for EqualRights and Employment Law, Lambright often pivots to Insurance Bad Faith litigation and Medical Malpractice—an area she sometimes finds “heartbreaking.”“In one case we had a woman who died from a kidney stone because she was being ignored by doctors and dubbed a pain pill seeker,” she says. “She eventually died of sepsis and left her son with no mother because she couldn’t get the treatment she needed.” The family received a significant settlement, but for Lambright, those cases are bittersweet.
With lawsuits lasting anywhere from six months to four years, Lambright dives deep into the litigation process—engaging in lengthy and detailed discovery, writing briefs and securing expert witnesses. “I go the extra mile, and I’m here for whatever my clients might need,” she says. “Besides truly understanding the area and intricacies of the law you’re practicing and being able to effectively advocate on behalf of your client, building a strong rapport where clients absolutely trust you is one of the most important parts of law.”
