Amber Peckio decided in elementary school that she would be a lawyer one day. Her family’s jobs kept them on the move, and she grew up in a variety of small towns, primarily in rural southeastern Oklahoma, rarely staying in a school for more than one school year, learning to make friends fast. As a child, she was inspired by her family’s attorney, Cecil Drummond, who died in early 2025.

“He was a formidable lawyer who could get things done, and that’s the life I decided I wanted for myself,” Ms. Peckio said. “To be the kind of lawyer who fights for justice and always stands up for the underdog.”

Ms. Peckio graduated from high school in Savanna, just a few miles south of McAlester. She served as valedictorian of her high school class of around 45, noting early on the valuable role of volunteer leadership in small communities.

“I played several sports and served on the academic team. I was active in every committee you can imagine. I learned never to underestimate the amount of stuff you can get done with a small group of committed people,” she said.

After high school, she decided to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, choosing to stay close to home to remain a resource for her family rather than attend one of the state’s major universities. While working full time as a hostess, server and bartender in the food service industry to put herself through college, she bonded with other students who came from similar backgrounds.

“We all had something to prove,” she said. “We knew the value of hard work, and we knew that where we came from did not define us.”

Despite the workload, she describes her college days as some of the best of her life, serving as the youngest president of her sorority in its history while double-majoring in political science and economics. Her work in student government introduced her to civic leaders and government officials who solidified her desire to go to law school.

“I would not be where I am today without the support of the administration at Southeastern. I took advantage of every leadership and learning opportunity they threw at me. Those experiences built my character, and I learned to be tenacious despite not being handed things,” Ms. Peckio said.

LAW SCHOOL AND BEYOND

Her impressive college resume earned her a full scholarship to attend the TU College of Law, where she studied law abroad for one term and continued to serve as a student leader, all while gaining valuable practical experience and legal skills through the licensed legal internship program. She credits her mentor, Pat Layden of McAlester, with helping her distinguish herself as a law student through meaningful opportunities with Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System docket, where she was able to assist disadvantaged clients.

Through those programs, she learned that she loved being in court and decided to focus her career on litigation. She also fell in love with Tulsa, the city she has now called home for 25 years.

“I’m always amazed at the possibilities Tulsa brings me: sports, entertainment, the ability to connect with a large network of legal professionals. I love the life I have built here,” she said.

But even as she loves her life in Tulsa, her personal experiences also drive her understanding of the value of rural practice. For the first several years after passing the bar, she completed a nearly two-hour daily round-trip commute to her law practice, the Garrett Law Office in Muskogee, which was the family law firm with her then-husband, Mitchell Garrett.

“I love the camaraderie of small-town practitioners,” Ms. Peckio said. “You learn to truly value the relationships you form – being a lawyer in a smaller area gives you greater opportunity to lead and serve. You can make a huge difference and become the backbone of the community. In a small-town practice, your clients are not just your caseload, they are your neighbors.”

FOUNDATION OF BAR LEADERSHIP

It is that spirit of leadership, service and collegiality that has marked Ms. Peckio’s career to date. She got involved with the OBA Young Lawyers Division while still a law student at TU, attending her first Annual Meeting in 2004 and getting to know bar leaders of the past, present and future. A member of the inaugural OBA Leadership Academy in 2008, she was also active in the Tulsa County and ABA young lawyers divisions as a new lawyer, making hospitality and service her mission. She recalls the joy she found in planning social and hospitality events for the division and building connections with fellow young lawyers, such as Bryon Will, with whom she worked to develop the Wills for Heroes program that launched during her year as YLD chair. The division still hosts these events around the state that, to this day, provide desperately needed legal services for veterans, military service members and first responders.

“I take a lot of pride in the hard work we did during my years in the YLD. Our law firm was the largest plaintiffs’ firm at the time in Oklahoma, with a staff of 75 and offices in three states, and my law career was booming. But bar work is my passion, and lawyers are my people, so I always found the time!” said Ms. Peckio.

Although she and her husband ultimately divorced, they continued to practice law together and remain friends, eventually moving their law practice to Tulsa. She also continued serving the bar through terms of service on the OBA Board of Governors and the Oklahoma Bar Foundation Board of Trustees.

FACING CHALLENGES

In 2019, she decided to strike out on her own and opened the Amber Law Group of Tulsa. Then, her world changed. Shortly after launching her law practice, as the COVID-19 pandemic raged, she was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia and began regular trips to Houston for treatment. Her therapy was successful, and she has been cancer-free for a few years as she and her care team continue to monitor her health. She credits her staff and close friends with helping her get through this difficult period of life.

During the course of her treatment, she took an interest in medical marijuana and worked with OBA leaders to launch the Cannabis Law Committee to explore the emerging area of law. She served as its first chairperson and helped the committee transition into an OBA section beginning this year. She has been active in her service to numerous other OBA committees and groups as well, serving as OBA vice president in 2024 and being elected as the association’s president-elect for 2025, ascending to the role of president this year.

“These groups serving the legal profession are where my friends are,” she said. “These are my people, the individuals and social groups I most enjoy spending my time with. Just like my school days, I don’t say no to an opportunity. If someone asks me to step up, my answer is always, ‘I’m in!’”

TAKING THE LEAD

As OBA president for 2026, her focus will be on encouraging other lawyer leaders to step up and serve to advance the legal profession in Oklahoma. She will also work to foster cordial and professional bench and bar relations, maintain the aging Oklahoma Bar Center facility and continue building on the work of previous OBA presidents to ensure all Oklahomans have access to legal representation.

“Like those lawyers who have inspired me throughout my life, I want to focus on making Oklahoma a better place and seeking justice for those who have been wronged,” she said. “Lawyers are my favorite people, and that’s why I want to spend all my free time with them. They are the unsung heroes, and democracy can’t function without them.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lori Rasmussen is the OBA director of communications.