Employee Spotlights, The Firm - Tuesday, July 17, 2012 10:44 - 0 Comments

James Lampkin

James Lampkin joined our firm in April 2011, and he currently works in the Mass Tort section. He is working in the Hormone Replacement Therapy litigation, handling cases throughout the country. James grew up in Montgomery and graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in 1979. He attended the University of Alabama from 1979 through 1980 and transferred to East Tennessee State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree (political science) in 1985. James then attended law school at Cumberland School of Law. He was on the Cumberland Law Review and graduated with honors in 1989. James was admitted to the Georgia and Alabama State Bars in 1989 and to the Florida and Mississippi State Bars in 1997.

James says he wanted to be a lawyer for as long as he can remember and never seriously considered any other profession. His grandmother, who raised James and his brother, worked on a part-time basis at the snack bar at the old Montgomery County Courthouse. James says she would come home talking about lawyers and judges who came into the snack bar. Her stories and her respect for those lawyers and judges, according to James, were a big influence on his decision to choose the law as a profession.

Upon graduation from law school, James moved to the Mobile/Baldwin County area where he began his legal career as a law clerk for United States District Judge Virgil Pittman. In 1991, James entered private practice with a civil defense firm in Mobile where he worked until 2011. During that period of time, James was a speaker at numerous legal seminars, including industry seminars, and authored numerous legal articles involving a variety of issues related to his practice and service to clients. He also served in several capacities, including as an instructor in deposition and trial training programs for younger lawyers.

James is licensed to practice in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi as well as before all federal courts in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and the Northern District of Florida. He is also admitted to the United States Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He is currently a member of the American Bar Association, the Alabama Association for Justice, the Montgomery Association for Justice, the Mobile County Bar Association and the Baldwin County Bar Association. James says the best part of being a lawyer is “helping people resolve problems.”

In 1991, James married the former Martha Grimes of Marion Junction, Ala. They have two children, Brooks and Ginny. The Lampkins were members of Spanish Fort United Methodist Church where James served in several leadership positions. Over the past several years, James volunteered his time in supporting the educational and sports programs at Spanish Fort High School. The family has now moved to Montgomery and they are currently looking for a church home here. James will be supporting the educational and sports programs at St. James School, where Ginny will begin the 10th grade in the Fall. Brooks will begin his freshman year at Auburn in the Fall.

In his spare time, James also enjoys hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. He is an avid football fan and enjoys attending Bama games in Tuscaloosa. He enjoys working with his hands and solving mechanical issues as well. James’s father was a certified welder and was not able to teach James that skill before he passed away. But several years ago, James bought a welding machine and he and his son taught themselves how to weld. That was a tribute to James’s father. Ginny has designed several different bottle trees that they have created. James had this to say:

I am a firm believer that as parents we are obligated to teach our children certain skill sets that will allow them to take care of themselves. My wife and children are the greatest people in my life next to my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. The law is the great equalizer in our society and it helps ensure general civility. I truly believe that the ‘law’ should be impartial to all, and that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, is equal.

We are highly pleased that James has joined our firm. He is a very good lawyer and we are blessed to have him on board.