Jim grew up in the burgeoning metropolis of Elberton, Georgia. Jim is another Legion legal legacy. Jim’s father is an exceedingly well-respected attorney and Elbert County State Court Judge. Thus, Jim was able to grow up in the legal profession, see and experience an honorable law practice from the inside, and recognize how to ensure principled integrity remains at the forefront of all that Jim thinks, says, and does.

EDUCATION

Jim graduated from the John Marshall School of Law in 2009 after obtaining his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in 2003. As is readily apparent, Jim elected to refrain from “going straight through” with his law school education after undergraduate school. Instead, Jim opted to gain some incredible real-world experience. First, Jim was an event manager for a sports marketing company
specializing in NASCAR races. Then, Jim earned his CDL and drove a truck around the country. Finally, before returning his focus to law school, Jim was a marketing coordinator with a large homebuilder in Atlanta. Jim’s resulting experiences allow him to not only understand what typical jurors may think of a case, but he can relate to your clients in a way many neutrals simply cannot.

EXPERIENCE

After law school, Jim gained even more invaluable experience as a staff attorney for the Superior Court Judges of the Northern Judicial Circuit including Elbert, Hart, Franklin, Madison, and Oglethorpe Counties. Jim was able to absorb nuances of a multitude of legal disciplines seeing how the law interacts with everyday citizens through a five-county area. It provided Jim with an amazing skillset establishing his credentials as a phenomenal neutral. In practical terms, in the world of civil law in Georgia, there is very little Jim hasn’t seen.

Jim has been a registered neutral since 2010. Since, then, and given Jim’s wealth of experience in vast legal disciplines, Jim has been very comfortable providing his neutral services in the areas of personal injury (with a specific emphasis on automobile collisions and premises liability), divorce and custody, and property law.

PERSONAL

Legion specifically asked Jim two questions we believe illustrate the type of person and neutral he is: 1) What are the top three words to describe you? and 2) who was your childhood hero? Jim’s responses speak volumes. To the former question, Jim said: Forgiving, generous, and honest. Three terms that should be the watchwords of any strong neutral capable of bringing others to a resolution. To the latter question, Jim said: “My mother – she was a strong but peaceful advocate for good, loved her church and family, constantly volunteered in our community, and was affectionately known as “Mama Marcia” by so many people in the community because of the love that she gave.” Respect.

Finally, Jim is a family man. He and his wife have 2 boys that have become the center of their universe. His commitment to being a great Dad irrespective of the demands of a busy law and mediation practice echoes Legion’s desire to provide big city services with small town values.