Attorney at Law Magazine sat down with Jeffrey Alan Slocum, founder of Slocum Law Firm, LLC, to discuss his practice and firm.
AALM: When did you first know you wanted to be an attorney? What drew you to this career?
Slocum: My father was a chiropractor in Tifton, Georgia and a patient accused a new doctor in his office of being negligent. My father was sued as the employer of the new chiropractor. Years passed and I saw the litigation process take its toll on my family. I remember their attorney coming to our house on weeknights, weekends, and always being available when he was needed. That attorney sparked my interest in the law, not only for the arguments he fashioned, but for his willingness to serve his clients at any given time. I never forgot that.
AALM: Do you have any mentors that encouraged you along the way?
Slocum: Solicitor J. Strom Thurmond Jr. and Deputy Solicitor Bill Weeks are two mentors who taught me a lot during my time as an assistant solicitor in Aiken. They were always available to lend an ear and provide insight when cases became complex. Most importantly, they taught me how to think ahead and to expect the unexpected. They educated me on a daily basis and trusted me enough to handle complex felony cases. That experience gave me the foundation to go out on my own and start my own legal practice. I will be forever grateful.
AALM: What was the greatest lesson you learned in law school?
Slocum: Professor William M. Janssen at Charleston School of Law taught me to always be prepared! He exudes a genuine passion for teaching and his students. That’s not to say he didn’t push the heck out of me because it seemed like that was all he did! He was my civil procedure professor and dubbed me the “Supplemental Jurisdiction” point man for an entire semester. Every time this issue came up in class discussions, I had to analyze the facts and incorporate them into the legal rules and tell the class how the court would likely rule in each situation. I was challenged to be prepared every day, and I was. Today, I incorporate that lesson and strive to be prepared for my clients at every phase of their case.
AALM: What do you find particularly rewarding about your practice?
Slocum: Well, because we are a boutique firm in Aiken, South Carolina, I am able to provide a more intimate, one-on-one, experience to my clients in many different areas of law. The ability to provide a personal service to someone in their time of need, is something that I find extremely rewarding. Whether it be a DUI citation, a criminal charge, a family court issue or civil dispute, I enjoy being able to help people in their time of need. A genuine, heart felt “thank you” from a client after representing them is what makes it all worthwhile. I guess you could say that it keeps me coming back, day in and day out.
AALM: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Slocum: Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Sara, and our vast array of pets. We are both suckers for rescue animals and Sara finds it extremely difficult to say no to animals in need of a home. We have three adopted dogs, two cats, a horse and we would most likely have more if we had the room! We spend time at the lake with our extended families and try to take small, weekend trips to new locations whenever we get the chance. Life outside of the office helps balance out the daily pressures of running a business. This, in turn, allows me to be fully rested and ready to help serve the people of Aiken, South Carolina.
