Jim Lloyd, Lloyd, Gray, Whitehead & Monroe, P.C.

written by: Michelle Amaral | photos by: Eric Holsomback

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Jim Lloyd, President of Birmingham Bar Association and Partner of Lloyd, Gray, Whitehead & Monroe, P.C.

Birmingham native Jim Lloyd is breaking stereotypes. In a city with more than 6,000 lawyers in its greater metropolitan area, Jim exhibits entrepreneurship and philanthropy and encourages other attorneys to also give back to their community.

Lloyd is a founding partner of the local law firm Lloyd, Gray, Whitehead & Monroe, and currently serves as the President of the Birmingham Bar Association, a society of nearly 4,000 lawyers that provides support for their professional development and advancement. One of Lloyd’s major goals for 2011 is to heighten awareness about the good deeds that are carried out by those in the law profession.

“The work of a lawyer is always cutting edge and as such can make a good story for the press,” he says. “But if we communicate what lawyers do, I think it’s hard to get a bad reputation. We need to be able to project our image to the community and tell them about the good things we do.”

Indeed, lawyers spend numerous hours doing volunteer, pro bono work as well as service projects that benefit the city. Members of the BBA and the Magic City Bar Association gather each year for a day of community service entitled “service juris” where they participate in a variety of projects from building houses to painting youth centers. Throughout the year, members of the BBA speakers bureau visit local schools to educate youth about the legal profession and they also help the homeless by addressing their specific concerns regarding wills, trusts, and proper identification. Many other members donate time to help clients of the Birmingham Volunteer Lawyers Program, which exists to provide legal services for qualifying individuals.  Furthermore, according to Lloyd, a crisis relief committee was recently created to aid victims of disaster 

“In the event of an earthquake, tornado, or other activity that causes public suffering and loss of life, we will mobilize local lawyers to help however possible.”

in the beginning: good mentorship was key

A graduate of the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, Lloyd decided to enter the legal profession upon advice from his older brother, who was a law school student himself at the time. In 1977, immediately following graduation, Lloyd made a bold move by hanging out his own shingle to help create the law firm of Lloyd, Ennis & Lloyd.

“Taking the risk was exciting,” he says. “All of us knew that good things would happen if we worked hard.”

Since that time, Lloyd has assumed numerous leadership positions and accomplished a number of achievements. He served as President of the Young Lawyers division of the Birmingham Bar Association; chaired several committees including the ethics committee and long-range planning committee; and served in several Executive Committee positions. With the Alabama State Bar, he served three terms as a Bar Commissioner. 

Lloyd owes much of his success to the mentorship he received as a young lawyer. He’s particularly grateful for the guidance provided by Burns Proctor, who was a partner in the law firm of Johnston, Barton, Proctor, Swedlaw & Naff. The two were serving together on a bar committee as chairman and co-chairman, respectively; at the time of his appointment, Lloyd was only one year out of law school.

 “He did a lot for my self-confidence by reassuring me that I was doing a good job while offering support and feedback. To have people like that who would mentor was really helpful.”
 
He was also fortunate that his first law office was in the City Federal Building in downtown Birmingham, which housed several other law firms as well.
 
“If we had questions, lawyers would help us out, even if they were representing the other side of the case,” he says. “When you have people who will help you from the beginning, it really makes a difference.”
 
In an effort to promote development of today’s young lawyers, mentor programs are being created that pair individuals with seasoned lawyers. Lloyd is also organizing programs for lawyers that are transitioning between various points of their career; creating new committees within the Birmingham Bar Association; and facilitating relationships within the court system through monthly ‘Coffee with the Judges’ and among lawyers themselves with regular ‘Sunset Socials’.
 
According to Bo Landrum, Executive Director of the Birmingham Bar Association, the impact of Lloyd’s leadership is immeasurable.
 
“[Jim] is working hard to help the [Birmingham Bar] Association better serve the public while also addressing the needs of its members. His efforts to promote diversity and civility within the legal profession are readily apparent, and the Bar is fortunate to benefit from his leadership this year.”
 
Lloyd has been a senior partner in his current practice for 22 years and has expanded the firm to include about 40 lawyers. He is proud to call Birmingham home and enjoys the numerous artistic performances offered through organizations such as the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and the Red Mountain Theatre Company.
 
“Birmingham has so much to offer,” he says. “It’s a great place to live if you’re rearing a family. The location is perfect; it’s near the beach and the mountains, and close to a number of other cities.”
 
But above all, one of his favorite features of Birmingham is that it’s a great place for charitable corporations to give back.
 
The City of Birmingham is a better place with this selfless individual. May everyone learn from his example …
 

“I believe we as lawyers have been blessed and privileged to be members of a profession dedicated to service to others, and we can be of assistance to many people who are unable to help themselves for various reasons such as homelessness, poverty, mental or physical disability, or lack of opportunity.”