Click here to learn why you should choose law as a profession.

Click here to learn about how you can become an attorney.

Click here to learn about the importance of diversity in the profession

Click here to test your knowledge of attorneys and the legal profession!

Click here to request Choose Law materials

Click her to contact the Choose Law Team

Content provided by the American Bar Association Division for Public Education. Visit the Division for Public Education's website to learn more about the law and its role in society (www.abanet.org/publiced). For more profiles of pioneers in the legal profession, visit the Division for Public Education's Raising the Bar: Pioneers in the Legal Profession website at www.abanet.org/publiced/raisingthebar.html.

Brad Carson

When Representative Tom Coburn vacated the Congressional seat for the Second District of Oklahoma in 2000, attorney Brad Carson thought the opportunity was too good to miss. He'd been married just one month, had no personal wealth to finance his campaign, and was virtually unknown in political circles. But he got into his pick-up and drove from small town to small town to campaign. Carson went on to beat a longtime state House member in the primary to run in the general election and win 55 percent of the votes. Carson is the only Democrat in Oklahoma's delegation and is also the only enrolled Native American tribal member of the United States House of Representatives. Carson represents one of the most Native-American-populated Congressional districts in the nation.

Carson was born in Arizona in 1967. His father worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the family moved around reservations in Nevada, Arizona, North Carolina and Kansas. Carson did well in high school and attended Baylor University in Texas as a National Merit Scholar, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He then applied for a Rhodes scholarship, becoming the first Baylor University student to win one in 75 years. Carson went to study at Oxford, and received his master's degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. He also took the opportunity to travel around Europe, Africa, and Russia. On his return to the United States, Carson attended the University of Oklahoma College of Law, receiving his J.D. in 1994. He graduated at the top of his class.

After graduation, Carson took a job at a prestigious Oklahoma law firm, Crowe & Dunlevy. He devoted one-third of his time there to free representation of poor and indigent clients. Because of Carson's work on behalf of low-income earners, his firm was awarded the 1996 Exceptional Contribution to Legal Services Award by Legal Services of Eastern Oklahoma.

In an interview in 2003, Carson attributed his election to office to his teenage experience of working at a retail store. "If I looked back and said 'What's the best training for politics?' I think working as night manager for QuikTrip above all of them because you become an expert in making small talk with people, 'Hey, how are you doing? Good to see you today. What's going on? How's work? Good. See you later.' Just that friendly chatter."

Carson has kept the interests of American Indians in his state close to his heart since being elected to office. He has requested, and received, money for the Cherokee Nation to fight methamphetamine laboratories in rural Oklahoma. He has introduced legislation to permanently extend a tax credit received by employers who hire American Indians. He has also helped pass legislation authorizing a Native American Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City.

In 2002, Carson was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans by the United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees). The award recognizes young people who are the best, brightest and most inspirational leaders America has to offer, and was awarded to President Kennedy and Vice President Dick Cheney, among others.

Carson is philosophical about his success. "People always ask me, 'How did you get elected to Congress? How do you become a White House fellow?' And I say it's a little bit difficult to explain. Sometimes you're like Arthur pulling the sword out of the anvil. It just happens. And you're as mystified as everyone else about the process." Carson's friends give more credit to his drive and hard work, and call Carson a "highly intelligent, highly motivated individual."

Source: Chris Casteel, "Carson small talks his way to Washington," The Daily Oklahoman, 12 January 2003.

(Originally published in 2003)