Montgomery-based personal injury and consumer protection attorney Gibson Vance, a principal at Beasley Allen Law Firm, recently assumed the position of president of the Alabama State Bar.
Gibson has been a partner at Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis and Miles, P.C. for 22 years. The attorney, who has handled cases throughout Alabama, will continue his service as president pro tempore of Troy University’s board of trustees.
In his first address as Alabama State Bar president, Gibson touched on the importance of the organization’s mission.
“The work we do matters; the message we deliver matters; and the contribution we can make this year matters,” said Gibson. “Together, we can truly make a difference in the lives of our members.”
Vance stated his intentions to visit with members in all 41 Alabama judicial circuits and make them aware of a new program that is set to be launched early next month, which will provide to members five free hours of counseling sessions from a licensed counselor in Alabama.
“Whether a lawyer is facing mental health issues, substance abuse or alcohol addiction, or experiencing suicidal thoughts, the attorney can call our 1-800 number and receive confidential help,” noted Gibson. “No one at the Bar will ever know an attorney has used this service. As I visit every circuit in the state, I hope to drive home the message that to be a good lawyer, one must be a healthy lawyer.”
Gibson is a graduate of Troy University and Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. While attending law school at night, he worked for a law firm full-time as a law clerk during the day. While attending Jones, he was elected student bar president.
Shortly after obtaining his third-year practice card, Gibson began his law practice during his final year of study. The attorney’s two-person law firm handled a variety of cases, which included criminal, civil, probate and domestic cases.
Gibson served as Alabama State Bar vice president from 2020-2021 prior to becoming president-elect of the organization.
He also served as a bar commissioner representing the 15th Judicial Circuit. Additionally, he has chaired and been a member of numerous committees and task forces, including the Alabama Lawyers Care Task Force and the Elections, Ethics and Government Relations Committee.
His former service in local and national bar activities includes holding the position of president of the Montgomery County Bar Young Lawyers Division, the Montgomery County Bar Association, the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, the Alabama Association for Justice, the Southern Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice.
The executive council that will serve alongside Vance as follows:
- President-elect: Brannon Buck (Birmingham)
- Vice president: Elizabeth Smithart (Union Springs)
- Secretary: Terri Lovell (Alabama State Bar executive director)
- Executive council: Felicia Long (Montgomery)
- Executive council: Mark Debro (Huntsville)
- Executive council: Carmen Howell (Enterprise)
- Immediate past-president: Taze Shepard (Huntsville)
- Parliamentarian: Mark Boardman (Chelsea) – Ex Officio
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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