St. Louis Cathedral
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
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In the News
Stephen Babcock
Attorney, Babcock Law Firm, 33
By MARISSA FRAYER
Business Report staff writer
November 21, 2006
What can Baton Rouge do to attract more young professionals?
Baton Rouge needs to enhance its professional opportunities and entertainment opportunities, particularly for young singles just out of school.
Stephen Babcock tried to get into the Armed Forces but couldn't pass the hearing tests. That hasn't stopped him from soaring. While a student at Louisiana Tech University in 1991, Babcock's father paid for his first flying lessons. He even considered changing his major to aviation, but decided against becoming a professional pilot, hoping instead to make enough money to fly as a hobby.
Now a licensed pilot, Babcock says he had a "wonderfully patient instructor who held my hand throughout the whole process." He soloed for the first time on Valentine's Day and now flies for business, hunting and golfing destinations. "I try to get up as much as I can," he says.
When Babcock graduated from Louisiana Tech, he intended to go to law school and return to Ruston to open a practice, but he never went back. Instead he graduated from LSU's law school, worked in-house for a large insurance company for roughly two years then struck out on his own. In March 2003, with a cash advance from his Visa card, he started his own law practice in his spare bedroom.
His practice now operates from an office on Airline Highway and has always maintained at least 150% year-end growth revenue since its first day. "Obviously I can't keep that growth up forever, but it's been nice while it's been lasting," Babcock says.
Babcock is involved in many community activities, including Ducks Unlimited, and was recently selected by the Istrouma Council to chair its 2007 Annual Giving Campaign.
"If they don't say anything else about me when I'm gone, I hope they can at least say I left the world a better place than what it was when I found it."
