“What really inspires me to be better is the fact that I’ve got to raise my children and set an example of what type of person to be.”

What inspired you to pursue a career in law?

I grew up as the son of a lawyer and saw the impact my dad had on the people around him. He gave me a heightened sense of justice. As an adult, I wanted to make a difference, and the law was the most applicable profession for the skills I have.

What sets you apart in your area of legal expertise?

In terms of legal expertise, very few people know workers’ compensation law as well as I do, and that’s my specialty. Beyond that, I’m a seventh-generation Southern West Virginian and the first generation in my family to not work in the coal mines. This gives me a personal, vested interest in the well-being of coal miners and West Virginians.

Could you describe the journey that brought you where you are today?

I didn’t start law school until I was 36. After getting my undergraduate degree in history and English literature from Shepherd University, I worked as a teacher around West Virginia for a while. Then I started working for American Public University, got married, had a son, and earned a master’s degree in environmental policy and management.

After that, I had a soul-searching moment. I was beyond the point where I should have been figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. I asked myself what I could do to have the most impact for my family, myself, and society at large. I’m good at reading, writing, and researching, and I always wanted to be on the plaintiff’s side. The law seemed like the natural path that I had been resisting for a while, but once I committed to it, I felt it was where I needed to be.

What do you consider your most significant achievement?

Graduating from law school and getting hired by Bailey, Javins, & Carter. Graduating from law school is an accomplishment for anyone, but my circumstances made it particularly challenging. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in the first month of law school and passed away during my last semester. It was a crazy journey, and I latched onto the law as my guiding star.

Can you share a case or client experience that had a profound impact on you and/or your career?

In workers’ compensation, all cases hit close to home. I have about 160 clients, and many are struggling financially. Recently, I had a client who needed to reach 13% whole-person impairment to have a civil claim. He was initially at 6%, and his civil case was up in the air. I was going up against a managing partner at a national law firm, and I was nervous. But I just got back the decision that we reached 18%. This not only helps keep him afloat for another year, but it also opens the door for his civil claim, which will take care of him and his family for much longer.

Cases like this, where I can help clients who are living very close to the bone, make everything seem worthwhile. It’s gratifying to be able to utilize my skills to help people who really need it.

If you weren’t an attorney, what alternative career path might you have pursued?

I would have probably become a wildlife biologist or a land manager, pursuing a career with my master’s degree. I’ve always loved the outdoors – my hobbies are hunting, fishing, mountain biking, and backpacking. Growing up in West Virginia, seeing its beauty as well as some of the environmental issues, influenced this interest.

What advice would you give to aspiring attorneys who are going through law school right now?

Law school is nothing like practicing law. It’s really important to get real-world experience as soon as you can. While it’s important to know case law and everything they teach you in law school, it’s more important to find a practicing attorney who will take you under their wing as soon as you can. I think law school would better prepare students if they did apprenticeships from the start.

What’s one thing about the legal profession that might surprise people?

One thing that might surprise people is that a lot of the legal system has been taken out of traditional courts and put into administrative courts. You’re dealing with a lot of administrative law, which is similar to traditional law but has its nuances. For example, in workers’ compensation, the standards of evidence are different, and the system doesn’t make a worker whole at all. It would surprise people how much red tape an injured worker has to go through to get the level of benefits they deserve.

Outside of practicing law, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy in your free time?

I enjoy hunting, fishing, mountain biking, backpacking, camping, going out on the lake – I live around Summersville. But mostly, I enjoy spending time with my kids. I’ve successfully brainwashed them into loving the outdoors.

What source of inspiration or motivation has been the most significant driving force in your professional career and in your personal life?

I would say the largest source of inspiration for me are my children. I do a lot of what I do for myself, but at the end of the day, what really inspires me to be better is the fact that I’ve got to raise my children and set an example of what type of person to be. I’m trying to leave something worthwhile for them in the future.