A love for football eventually gave way to a legal passion for defense attorney
A bookcase in Gerald Swann Jr.’s law office serves as a physical reminder of his roots.
It once stood in his father’s law office in the small town of Ashville, Ala., and held law books and copies of The Southern Reporter, which held decisions issued by the state courts of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi dating back to 1941.
“The books always fascinated me,” says Swann, who remembers as a young child being drawn to the distinctive binding of the books.
Swann compares his hometown to Mayberry, the idyllic, fictional Southern community that was the setting for “The Andy Griffith Show.” Ashville had a population of under 1,500 residents and only one stoplight. His mother was a schoolteacher, and his father was a solo practitioner who handled any legal concern that walked through the door, from criminal defense work to real estate contracts to preparing wills.
“If you’re a small-town lawyer, you’re a jack of all trades,” says Swann. “You’re not going to turn work away. Sometimes his fees may have been paid with a ham or a chicken or whatever the client could afford to give up. If they didn’t have money, they found some way to compensate him for his time.”
At some point, Swann became aware that along with the preacher, the doctor, and the banker, his father was probably one of the four more important people in town.
“I think with that it helped me to see the important role a lawyer can play in someone’s life, be it advising them on a personal matter or being able to assist them navigating a legal issue,” says Swann.
Growing up, Swann held no conscious aspirations to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a lawyer. He was far more interested in sports, playing football, baseball, basketball and running some track in high school.
“Even before organized sports, I was probably organizing a football game in the backyard of someone’s house or a pick-up basketball game,” he says.
Despite having an opportunity at a smaller college on scholarship, Swann’s dream was to play football at the University of Alabama for the legendary Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, who is considered by many as one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. Swann realized his dream after “finagling” an invitation to a walk-on. He made the team as a defensive back for the four years of Bryant’s final seasons.
It once stood in his father’s law office in the small town of Ashville, Ala., and held law books and copies of The Southern Reporter, which held decisions issued by the state courts of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi dating back to 1941.
“The books always fascinated me,” says Swann, who remembers as a young child being drawn to the distinctive binding of the books.
Swann compares his hometown to Mayberry, the idyllic, fictional Southern community that was the setting for “The Andy Griffith Show.” Ashville had a population of under 1,500 residents and only one stoplight. His mother was a schoolteacher, and his father was a solo practitioner who handled any legal concern that walked through the door, from criminal defense work to real estate contracts to preparing wills.
“If you’re a small-town lawyer, you’re a jack of all trades,” says Swann. “You’re not going to turn work away. Sometimes his fees may have been paid with a ham or a chicken or whatever the client could afford to give up. If they didn’t have money, they found some way to compensate him for his time.”
At some point, Swann became aware that along with the preacher, the doctor, and the banker, his father was probably one of the four more important people in town.
“I think with that it helped me to see the important role a lawyer can play in someone’s life, be it advising them on a personal matter or being able to assist them navigating a legal issue,” says Swann.
Growing up, Swann held no conscious aspirations to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a lawyer. He was far more interested in sports, playing football, baseball, basketball and running some track in high school.
“Even before organized sports, I was probably organizing a football game in the backyard of someone’s house or a pick-up basketball game,” he says.
Despite having an opportunity at a smaller college on scholarship, Swann’s dream was to play football at the University of Alabama for the legendary Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, who is considered by many as one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. Swann realized his dream after “finagling” an invitation to a walk-on. He made the team as a defensive back for the four years of Bryant’s final seasons.
Fitri Nabilla Aulia
Leks&Co, Jakarta, Indonesia
Leks&Co, Jakarta, Indonesia
What other career path might you have chosen?
Since childhood, I wanted to be a doctor. However, both doctors and lawyers need the desire to continue learning. So, I have no regrets about becoming a lawyer.
Since childhood, I wanted to be a doctor. However, both doctors and lawyers need the desire to continue learning. So, I have no regrets about becoming a lawyer.
Coffee & Conversation
Due to the U.S. Memorial Day Holiday, Primerus™ will not be holding Coffee & Conversation on Monday, May 29th. We will return on Monday, June 5th. We will issue the next Weekly on Tuesday, May 30th due to the holiday.
Due to the U.S. Memorial Day Holiday, Primerus™ will not be holding Coffee & Conversation on Monday, May 29th. We will return on Monday, June 5th. We will issue the next Weekly on Tuesday, May 30th due to the holiday.
Cocktails & Conversation
Thursday, June 1st, 2023 at 4pm ED
Battling Burnout
Justin Paik
Ferris & Britton, APC, San Diego, California
Thursday, June 1st, 2023 at 4pm ED
Battling Burnout
Justin Paik
Ferris & Britton, APC, San Diego, California
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The 2023 EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) Regional Meeting will take place June 20-21 in Zürich, the Swiss city that is a global center for banking and finance in northern Switzerland. Topics on the agenda include panel discussions on M&A, insolvency, as well as new trends such as litigation and arbitration funding or quantum experts.
At this regional gathering, we encourage each Primerus™ law firm in the EMEA to send at least one representative, which will underscore our commitment to the importance of continuing legal education, one of the pillars of our worldwide alliance.
At this regional gathering, we encourage each Primerus™ law firm in the EMEA to send at least one representative, which will underscore our commitment to the importance of continuing legal education, one of the pillars of our worldwide alliance.
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