Meet Emily Viator, a Legal Assistant at Simon Fitzgerald LLC in the Lafayette/Lake Charles office. Emily helps clients and attorneys stay organized by answering client phone calls, answering questions, taking payments, filing documents, preparing and filing NOCAs, preparing initial consultation folders, requesting client numbers, opening mail, and forwarding client mail.
Emily primarily works with Karl Helo and Ryan Robison. On a typical day, she welcomes clients, answers phone calls, gathers important paperwork, prepares client folders, and helps make sure client information is organized before appointments. She also makes notes in the firm’s system when clients call with questions, updates, or concerns so the attorneys and staff stay informed.
Emily enjoys helping clients feel relief when they have questions or concerns. She understands that people often contact the firm during a stressful financial season, and she wants clients to know they are not alone. Her goal is to be patient, understanding, and informative while helping clients feel heard and supported.
One thing clients may not realize is how many people and steps work together behind the scenes to keep a case moving forward. Emily helps by preparing the first folder before a client’s initial consultation, keeping information organized, and helping the attorneys have what they need to meet with the client.
Emily got started at Simon Fitzgerald LLC after seeing a post from another employee, Macey Lejeune, in a Facebook group about an open position. Emily was interested as soon as she read the description, reached out, scheduled an interview, and soon joined the firm. She has loved the work ever since.
For Emily, helping bankruptcy clients is meaningful because it gives her a chance to support people through difficult or overwhelming moments. She wants every client to know that filing for bankruptcy is nothing to be looked down upon. The team is here to guide clients through each step of the process and help ease their nerves along the way.
Emily believes Simon Fitzgerald LLC stands out because the firm combines professionalism with personalized conversations. Clients receive direct guidance and support throughout the process, and the staff works to explain each step clearly. To Emily, compassion means treating every client with empathy, respect, and no judgment.
Emily earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Marketing from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2025 and graduated a semester early. Her education helps her communicate clearly, stay organized, and approach client service with care and professionalism.
Outside of work, Emily enjoys spending time with family and friends, working out, and watching new shows and movies. She is from Coteau, a small area between New Iberia and Broussard, and now lives in Lafayette. Some of her favorite places to eat are Texas Roadhouse, Don’s Seafood, and Zea. She enjoys watching The Walking Dead, Gossip Girl, and Gilmore Girls. Emily also loves crawfish season and visiting Acadian Village during the winter for its annual Christmas walkthrough.
