By Kaylee White
Allison Dickson, a member of Phi Beta Kappa and distinguished Southwestern University alumni, recently joined the Texas personal injury law firm Patterson Law Group.
Dickson’s amazing journey began at 15 months old when she was diagnosed with Werdnig-Hoffmann disease, a severe form of muscular dystrophy. She was only given a year to live, yet she has defied the odds, building a career in law and making a true difference in her community. Dickson’s motto is “I don’t need easy, I just need possible.” She more than lives up to it, graduating first in her class at Baylor Law School, being named Baylor Young Lawyer of the Year in 2017, and spending the past 15 years conducting legal research for Baylor University. She has also been recognized as a distinguished alumna for both the Temple Independent School District and Southwestern University.
Part of what gained her this recognition is Dickson’s commitment to increasing access to education. She has created through community fundraising three different scholarships for her alma maters: the Allison Dickson Delta Delta Delta Scholarship at Southwestern University, the Allison Dickson Baylor Law Scholarship, and the Allison Dickson Temple Proud Scholarship at Temple High School. She also has her own foundation, called the Allison Dickson Just Need Possible Foundation. Additionally, Dickson is extremely active in her sorority, Delta Delta Delta, where she is president of the Belton/Temple Tri Delta Alumnae Chapter and enjoys mentoring fellow sorority sisters and giving inspirational talks.
In 2014, Dickson became severely ill, spending months in the hospital. Following her recovery, she had an epiphany.
“Life is short and I want to use my time, voice, and energy to give back and make a difference,” explains Dickson.
This prompted her dive into philanthropy and education but put some of her legal aspirations on hold. However, near the end of 2022, Dickson decided it was time to dip her toes back into the legal world by joining the Patterson Law Group. What Dickson enjoys best about her job is the personal connection she has with the clients. Not only can she help clients with their legal problems, but she also is eager to offer her life experiences to help support clients on a personal level.
“I want to help remind clients that things are not always easy, but if possible, the world is always open for anything,” says Dickson.
Dickson also offers this same advice to other Phi Beta Kappa members. She acknowledges that embarking on a new career can be intimidating and uncertain. However, if you trust yourself and your experiences, she believes that you have all the tools you need to succeed.
And one of these tools is being a part of Phi Beta Kappa. Phi Beta Kappa creates more possibilities because “Phi Beta Kappa connects you to another network of people that are creative, brilliant, and engaging in your community,” Dickson says. “Just to be a part of this network is an honor, and it drives me to continue to grow and give back to my community.”
Dickson continues to give back to the community every day, her most recent project being an annual holiday toy drive for Texas Children’s Hospital. She looks forward to continuing her new position with Patterson Law Group and mentoring others hoping to go into law. As per Dickson’s motto, her many accomplishments are anything but easy, but for her, the possibilities are endless.
Kaylee White is a recent graduate of Southwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa there in May 2022. Southwestern is home to the Theta of Texas chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Kaylee is currently working on a Master of Science in psychology at the University of Texas San Antonio.