The Vowels Law PLC Team

 Austin P. Vowels founded and operates Vowels Law PLC, a  law firm in his hometown of Henderson, Kentucky. 

Admissions:

-Kentucky Law License

-Missouri Law License

-US District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky and 

-US Circuit Courts of Appeals for the Sixth, Seventh, and Tenth Circuits. 

Other Notables:

-Selected “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers each year from 2016 through 2026

-Vowels served on the Henderson City Commission from 2017 through 2024, being elected every two years starting in 2016. 

-In 2017, he co-founded Henderson Brewing Co., a microbrewery in Henderson, Kentucky. 

-In May 2020, he was appointed by the Governor of Kentucky to serve on the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. 

 -Vowels is also the President of the Henderson Bar Association,  a member of the Henderson Rotary Club, a member of Network Success Partners, a member of the Downtown Henderson Partnership Committee, the former Chairman of the HEAT Lab Advisory Board, the former President of the Network Alliance Chapter of Business Network  International,  the former Vice President of the Henderson Rotaract Club, a Henderson Leadership Initiative Alumni, a New Leaders Council Alumni, a Former Ohio Valley Art League Treasurer, and a member of the Kentucky Bar Association. 

-Vowels earned his Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law. While in law school, Vowels served as an articles editor for the Saint Louis University Public Law Review and was employed as a faculty fellow for an intellectual property professor. Vowels provided legal services at his  law school’s clinic dealing with community and economic development  issues for nonprofit organizations. He also served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Magistrate Judge Donald G. Wilkerson in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois in East St.  Louis, Illinois, and as a law clerk for Morton Law LLC in Henderson, Kentucky. 

-Vowels obtained a Bachelor of Science from the University of  Louisville where he majored in Political Science with a concentration in  Law and Public Policy and minored in Economics. During college, Vowels  worked as a technology business analyst for Eon U.S., a utility company,  and as technical support for the University of Louisville. 

-Vowels is married to  Sarah Crick. The two have a son and daughter together and live in Henderson, Kentucky with their dogs, Louis and Charlie. 

M. Alexander Russell is an Attorney and Partner at Vowels Law PLC. He joined Vowels Law PLC in January 2021. 

More about Russell:

-Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and a minor in Business and Spanish from the University of Kentucky (May 2011);

-Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Louisville (May 2015);

-Florida Law License since 2016;

-Kentucky Law License since 2017;

-Indiana Law License since 2022;

-Experience as an attorney working Gulf Coast Legal Aid, St. Petersburg, Florida;

-Experience as a Law Clerk for a variety of firms from July of 2012 to November 2016;

-Experience as President and Chief Executive Officer of Greenman Gardens Inc;

-Experience working Personal Injury, Family, Contract Litigation,  Criminal, Federal Black Lung, and other areas of law. 

Attorney David Littrell III joined Vowels Law PLC as an Associate Attorney in August 2023. 

More about Littrell:  

- Bachelor Degree with a major in Political Science from the University of Kentucky, Graduated with Honors (May 2020);

- Juris Doctor Degree from Northern Kentucky University (May 2023);

- Kentucky Law License since October 2023;

- Experience as a law clerk (for Dorsey, Grey, Norment and Hopgood in Henderson, Kentucky and for Lawrence and Associates in Northern Kentucky);

-Experience as a law clerk for a judge (Judge Cross in Northern Kentucky);

-Experience assisting with labor negotiations and collective bargaining agreements;

- Practical Experience working for Berry Plastics Summer Program and working at Ellis Park Horse Racing in Security;

- Practices Civil Litigation, Family, Federal Black Lung, and Personal Injury

Attorney Scott A. Lu joined Vowels Law PLC as an Associate Attorney in January 2025. More about Lu: 

- Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Criminal Justice and minors in Political Science and International Studies and Sociology from the University of Evansville, UE President’s Scholarship, UE Scholar Award, Dean’s List (May 2021);

- Juris Doctor Degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law, Top 8 in Class Rank, Law Journal, Asian American Law Student Association, Dean’s List (May 2024);

- Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky Law Licenses;

- Experience working as a Law Clerk for multiple law firms in Southern Illinois from August 2022 through May 2023;

-  Developed and Published law note in Southern Illinois University Law Journal on Copyright and Deepfake AI; and

- Practical Experience working as a U.S. Postal Service Clerk in 2020 and 2021.

Attorney Lu enjoys helping clients put the best foot forward, even in rough situations.

 Desiré Smith is a Paralegal at Vowels Law PLC in Henderson, Kentucky. Prior to joining Vowels Law PLC in 2019, she gained experience working in disability claims filed with the Department of Veterans Affairs. At Vowels Law PLC, Smith uses her knowledge and experience to assist clients litigating cases, primarily in federal black lung claims. She also has experience in personal injury, veterans’ compensation, contracts, tort law, family law, expungements, estate planning, and equine law related to disputes of ownership.  

Smith has worked as a Paralegal since 2013. She earned her Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies from Daymar College of Owensboro, in an American Bar Association approved program, graduating cum laude, made the President’s List, and the Who’s Who Among Students List.  In 2023, Smith made the Dean's List and completed her Bachelor of Science in Business with the University of Phoenix, with a prior emphasis in Human Resource Management.

Smith is a nationally certified paralegal, being one of only eighteen in Kentucky possessing the "CP" credential. Smith has been a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants ("NALA") since July 2019 and was appointed by NALA's President in 2021 for the Continuing Education Committee. She was published by NALA's national award-winning quarterly journal, Facts & Findings for her article "I've got the Black Lung" available at https://nala.org/black-lung/. Smith has also presented a live webinar for continued education on the topic of federal black lung claims. Smith has a standing column in Facts & Findings where she discusses and educates readers about decisions from the Supreme Court of the United States. She enjoys legal research and legal writing. 

Smith has been an active volunteer serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) since August 2020, volunteers at Spottsville Elementary School, assists with meets hosted at Henderson County High School for Track and Field, is an Assistant Coach at South Middle School for Cross-Country, a KHSAA registered Cross-Country coach, and has served as the event coordinator, and cross-country liaison for the Junior Colonels District Championship race and other community runs hosted at the former Henderson Municipal Golf Course since 2019. 

  Leslie Jackson joined Vowels Law in January 2023. 

Prior to joining Vowels Law, Jackson gained her experience as a Benefits Intake Coordinator and Case Manager for Woods and Woods, LLP, from 2013-2018, where she primarily assisted Veterans in their fight against the VA for their rightfully deserved Service-Connected Compensation claims. 

Jackson took a brief detour from the legal field in 2018-2019, where she worked as an Administrative Assistant for the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. During that time, she realized her passion rested with the legal realm and helping others for what they deserve.

Returning to her roots, she was a paralegal/case manager at Curt Hamilton Injury Law from 2019-2023, dedicating herself to helping injured/disabled clients with their personal injury and Social Security disability claims.   

 Linda Totten joined Vowels Law PLC in April 2023. Totten studied Early Childhood Education at Henderson Community College. She has 20 years of work experience including four as a Lead Patient Observation Attendant, three in food service, and fifteen as an Office Receptionist at a medical office. 

Totten greets our guests with a smile and also works hard to keep her clients cases on track and making sure they are ready for successful outcomes.

  Lauren Ellis joined Vowels Law PLC in November 2023. Ellis earned an associates degree in applied science and certificate in Criminal Justice Core from Madisonville Community College in 2022. She also earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Northern Kentucky University in 2025! She has four years of experience in production and four years of experience in customer service/hospitality. Ellis is a super in organization and enjoys finding ways to help her clients find success.

  Bailey Risse joined Vowels Law PLC in February 2025. Risse earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice with a 4.0 at Bellevue University in 2024 after earning an Associate of Science at Henderson Community College. She has three years of experience in customer service/hospitality and three years of experience in youth teen development.

Risse has been a valuable asset in assisting in all types of cases but especially federal black lung, personal injury, and criminal matters.