How To Succeed as a Military Lawyer featuring Vernon W. Thomas

Vernon W. Thomas discusses his experiences while running his fathers’ legal practice and the lack of advantages he encountered as a multigenerational lawyer.

In this episode, Vernon W. Thomas, a Southern University Law Center graduate, discusses his career as a U.S. Army Reserve JAG officer and second generation lawyer. Spoiler Alert: Vernon W. Thomas is my legal mentor.

How To Succeed as a Military Lawyer featuring Vernon W. Thomas

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About This Episode

Vernon W. Thomas is a member of the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG), an Orleans Parish city prosecutor, a bookworm, former East Baton Rouge Parish public defender and has experience as a solo practitioner. Yet, Vernon did not grow up with aspirations to be a lawyer.

Vernon grew up watching his father, Vernon P. Thomas, a 1979 Southern University Law Center graduate, run a thriving legal practice. However, Vernon attended Dillard University with intentions to become a school teacher. After numerous discussions with his father, Vernon realized that his analytical mind might enjoy law school.

As a 2009 Southern University Law Center graduate, Vernon studied with a group of classmates for the bar exam. While being too broke to pay for a formal bar prep course and having military-style discipline, Vernon endured a tenuous schedule and prides himself on passing the Louisiana bar exam on his first try. After working in various legal roles, in numerous cities, and on multiple active duty assignments with the United States Army Reserves, Vernon is back in his hometown of New Orleans.

Currently, Vernon W. Thomas is a lawyer with the Law Office of Vernon P. Thomas; a role that Vernon inherited after his father passed away in 2016. Vernon and his brother, Hunter Thomas, a 2017 Southern University Law Center graduate, both share the workload at their fathers’ namesake office.

Vernon W. Thomas is licensed in Louisiana. Connect with Vernon W. Thomas on LinkedIn.

Follow the You Are A Lawyer podcast on Twitter @YouAreA_Lawyer, Instagram @youarealawyer, Clubhouse @youarealawyer, and on LinkedIn. Follow the podcast host, Kyla Denanyoh, on Instagram @mrsdenanyoh. Kyla Denanyoh is a 2015 graduate of Southern University Law Center (SULC) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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