Selma, Alabama, resident Brandon Wooten has opened the Wooten Law Firm at 309 Church St. The opening occurred on Thursday with a ribbon cutting and a holiday open house, according to The Selma Times-Journal.
“It means a lot, especially because this is my native community of Selma,” Wooten said. “Everybody here has really been embracing me and been very supportive and have helped me on my journey of establishing my own law practice.”
The mayor of Selma, George Evans, attended the event and said that he was “proud to see [Wooten] return home to Selma.” Kim Ballard, the Dallas County Probate Judge, said, “I’m glad to have him in my courtroom.”
Wooten has practiced law in Montgomery, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Washington, D.C. He noted that returning to Selma was a calling.
“I really wanted to establish my own law practice, and I felt like honestly, here [in Selma] my client base would be best,” Wooten said. “I know Selma has a certain stigma attached to it where a lot of people don’t come home after working in Birmingham or getting a taste of D.C. — they want to work there and they don’t want to come back here. So I knew that this would be an excellent market for me, and a market that would better allow me to help people and work for the people.”
The practice is in a refurbished home in Old Town. Wooten said that he chose the location based on its character and its beauty.
“It’s the Old Town historic district and I think it’s one of the most beautiful district’s I’ve seen, and I’ve been in D.C. and Birmingham, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa and various places,” Wooten said. “The homes here are really great. This home in particular was built in 1900. Beautiful wood floors, the carving, everything — it adds a lot of character. When I saw the doors, I knew that this is where I wanted to be.”
Wooten practices family law and criminal defense to go along with automobile accident, personal injury and work place injuries. Wooten noted that Birmingham has a business district atmosphere compared to the family-oriented feeling offered in Selma.
“If anybody needs help or has any legal concerns or questions, I’d be more than happy to help them out and tell them whatever knowledge I have and give them a consultation to let them know if they have a case and what’s the best way to go according to the law,” he said. “That’s what I moved back here for — to help the people, and that’s what I plan on doing.”