Josh Basile is not your typical attorney. Basile was injured on the Bethany Beach in Maryland nine years ago, according to a story on MyFoxDC. Basile used to play tennis and visit the beach regularly as a child. In 2004, Basile shattered his back while in the water.
“I turned my back to the ocean and a wave picked me up and dropped me on my head and I shattered my neck,” Basile said. “And since then, I’ve been a quadriplegic.”
Basile had to spend five weeks on a breathing tube and is paralyzed for the remainder of his life. He uses a wheelchair everyday to get around, but his spirit was never damaged.
“People have never told me what I can and cannot do – to my face at least,” said Basile.
Now, Basile gives inspirational speeches and has become an advocate for the disabled in the country. It was his goal to become a lawyer, and earlier this week he was sworn into the Maryland state bar as an attorney. The Maryland Court of Appeals was packed to its limits as Basile rose his right hand to take the oath.
“I put so many long hours and hard work into getting to this point in my life, and this morning I was there and I just really don’t want this feeling to go away,” he said.
Basile is going to practice malpractice law, which has surprised even his father, Dr. John Basile.
“When he was a little boy in school, he was a terrible student,” Dr. Basile said. “I mean the only A’s he got was physical education.”
Basile’s new boss, Jack Olender, said that Basile has a view on life that is very different from most lawyers.
“He has the empathy and he understands what it is to be injured,” Olender said.
Basile said, “The truth is you just have to have a creative mindset to get where you need to go, and if you’re passionate enough about it, you’ll find your way.”