Jeremy Burnside's law school ordeal was much much worse than most. In what could only be called an Appalachian Apocalypse, his college town of Grundy, Va. was afflicted with an explosion, which destroyed his apartment on the eve of final exams, and a flood. And three people, including the Dean, were murdered on campus. These horrendous incidents came on top of his failure to make grades in his first semester.
With an amazing burst of determination, creative study techniques, and self-discipline, Jeremy learned to think like a lawyer, and avoided almost certain expulsion. He became a first-rate law student, graduated, and passed the bar in Ohio and Kentucky. Burnside is now an outstanding trial lawyer in Portsmouth, Ohio.
As Jeremy tells us in this engaging story, he was faced with an almost impossible situation. Burnside's ability to go from academic probation to Dean s list in one semester was near miraculous. His experience, as related here, is a true story dramatized by fictional characters and conversations. It is a classic young man s coming-of-age tale set in an Appalachian Paper Chase environment. Jeremy s ordeal is alternately hilarious and perplexing, but ultimately heart-warming and inspiring.
The law is a demanding mistress, but she promises a meaningful life of service to those who survive the rigors of law school and studying for the bar. The young men and women who pursue careers in the law deserve our gratitude and respect. In a world of declining standards, the law remains one of the last true professions, and lawyers are guardians of our individual rights and liberties. Yes, some lawyers try to pervert the law and serve sinister interests. But they are the exceptions.
Lawyers like Jeremy Burnside exemplify the positive side of law seeking justice for people, sometimes against long odds.
Jeremy M. Burnside is a trial attorney in Portsmouth, Ohio. He represents the little guy against big insurance companies. He is an advocate against gun violence and tort reform, and has debated on television and at universities. He has been recognized by his peers as an Ohio Super Lawyer, a top 40 civil trial attorney under 40, and has been included in the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers list.
Jeremy handles many serious personal injury, nursing home neglect, brain injury and wrongful death cases in Ohio and in Kentucky, where he is also licensed to practice.
Burnside grew up on the near-West Side of Cleveland, but completed his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Charleston (WV) and the Appalachian School of Law, respectively.
After practicing law in Cleveland for five years, Jeremy returned to Appalachia where he opened up his current practice and met his wife, real estate broker, Maddie Burnside. The Burnsides share office space in an old church that they re-purposed.
