BRAD CASHIO USES HIS FAITH AND LEGAL BACKGROUND TO GIVE BACK.

Brad Cashio lives with a simple purpose: Find a need and fill it. And that’s exactly what he has done in both his professional and personal lives.

As head of the Cashio Law Firm, the 38-year-old Kenner native regularly offers his services pro bono, or free, to individuals, small businesses, churches and nonprofits. In addition, he has created something called the «Peace of Mind» package, which offers estate planning at significantly discounted prices.

«End of life decisions can be hard and tear families apart. They need help but often can’t afford it,» Cashio said. «What I’m trying to do is put this idea out there in hopes that not just our office does it, that others do as well.» 

Cashio said he is motivated by his strong Christian faith and to that end he has conducted Bible classes with inmates in the Orleans Justice Center for the past 13 years. It’s just one of Cashio’s many charitable efforts that have made him an asset to the community, said friend Jason Gaudet.

«This man is always reading and finding the next thing that he can donate his time to. Not only does he finish what he starts, but he starts more things every year than any person I have ever met,» Gaudet said.

BEGINNINGS: «It’s a family business. My father is a lawyer, my grandfather, my uncle, my cousin. It’s something we have running through our veins. I just remember always loving it. When I was really small my parents gave me a game where you were the judge. It gives you these hypothetical cases based on real cases. What would you do? How would you rule in this case?»

BLESSINGS: «We’re very friendly with a lot of the churches and they know to come to us with whatever they need. Really, if I can find an excuse to not charge somebody, I do. I realize I’m very blessed to be able to do that. My father was an attorney for my entire life and he’s done very well with that so we were never struggling. We were never raised to think about money except how we can use it to bless others. I’m a strong Christian. If anybody says anything about me, I hope that’s the first thing that comes up.»

TRUTH: «The inmates are ready to talk when we go in for Bible study because there’s so much self-evaluation while they’re in jail. They’re thinking about their lives and the things that went right and the things that went wrong. They’re not ready to accept just anything you say and that’s good. You don’t want someone to tell you something just so you can believe it and have some hope. That would be terrible. Truth is what we all want and what they want.»

FEAR: «People always ask, ‘Are you scared in the jail?’ And I guess that’s a reasonable question. And you can see me. I’m not an intimidating guy. But the answer is always, ‘Absolutely not.’ I think God has got some protection there. Maybe I’m just stupid to not be afraid. But I think I’m definitely protected when I walk in there.»

STRUGGLES: «They’re good people. I’ve never been the least bit uncomfortable in that place. You never feel uncomfortable even if you walk up to someone that’s got an angry face on because he sees you’re there with love. And you’re there not because you have to be, but because you want to be.»

INSPIRATION: «I went to China a bit and I have a passion for China now. I see that in my future in one way or another. I had a lot of misconceptions before I went there. You hear these things about communist China and you wonder what that’s really like. But as far as the people and how they’re living their lives, it’s very free in a sense. I had a real worldview change. There’s something very beautiful about it. I’m very inspired by it.»

HORNS: «My favorite band right now has about six of my friends in it. They’re called Marina Orchestra. They’re kind of a Caribbean and reggae influenced band. A lot of upbeat, fun stuff. But other than that I love anything live, certainly anything with horns in it.»

HONOR: «I want young attorneys to keep this profession honorable. I want them to not focus on money first. Just deliver quality work to your clients and communicate. Attorneys have a horrible reputation, because it’s true, that most of them wont call their clients back. It’s terrible. If my clients are calling me, I’m calling them back.»

BACKBURNER: «I want to write a book very badly. I was planning to be finished next year but I feel like I have to put it on the backburner again because some other things have been inspiring me. I’m doing my best trying to learn Chinese. I want to spend some real time in China. But the book is fiction and kind of plays on these limitless brain ideas, unlocking the power of the brain and the good and bad that can come with that. I hate putting things on the backburner. But you have to take life as it comes and I’ll always have time for that. If I don’t do some of the things that are coming up now, I’ll never do them.»

SHOUT-OUT: From longtime friend Todd Sentiles. «He will always go out of his way to help anyone who needs it. Brad Cashio is one the most genuine, honest, hardworking professionals, and one of the best friends anyone could have on their side.»