I first fell in love with the idea of becoming an attorney while watching fictional defense attorney Perry Mason on TV. Played by Raymond Burr, that character's no-nonsense attitude and his constant dedication to defending his clients struck a nerve. It's what made me want to commit to helping people with their legal needs. Inspired by the show, I decided to become an attorney. After attending historic Hampden-Sydney College and graduating in 1973, I attended law school at the University of Virginia, where I graduated in 1977. After being admitted to the Virginia State Bar in 1979, I opened my practice in Lynchburg that same year. That's where I've been for almost 40 years, providing dedicated and personal legal representation to many people over the years, operating under the belief that every client is deserving of understanding and respect. One of the things that bring me the greatest amount of joy from my career is knowing how many people I've helped through some really tough circumstances in their life. Hiring an attorney can be a stressful thing, which is why I try to make it as easy as possible for them. I listen to the details of their case and do my best to make sure I have the story straight before I come up with an idea of how to pursue their case. Because I've been around a long time, I can usually find some parallel or similar cases to draw inspiration from — and if there's something I haven't heard yet, I'm pretty creative when it comes to forming a legal strategy. I believe in honesty when it comes to working with my clients because we need to be able to trust one another with all the details of the case. In addition to a "never give up" attitude and perseverance, my clients can expect me to give them the unvarnished truth in regards to their legal situation and the options available. It doesn't make sense to try to sell you on something that won't work given the circumstances, after all. By establishing trust and doing everything I can to make sure my clients are respected, I've developed a pretty good track record of helping people with their problems. When I'm not working with clients, I enjoy a lot of different hobbies. In addition to being a former "Little All American" football player, I like to spend my time running, exercising, and can even be found doing a little ballroom dancing.

Jonathan grew up in Lexington, Virginia. After finishing his law degree at Washington & Lee University School of Law, Jonathan worked as a Contract Negotiations Specialist and as a Financial Planner for a Fortune 500 company before starting Tarris Law in 2016. Since starting Tarris Law, Jonathan has litigated thousands of matters throughout Virginia from fatal trucking accidents to farm partitions among dozens of heirs. and has successfully appealed trial court rulings, even garnishing published opinions in the Virginia Court of Appeals. Many times Jonathan is able to avoid litigation altogether with proper planning and negotiations. He has formed dozens of trusts, LLCs and other business entities, providing them with the proper legal paperwork to avoid disputes among all stakeholders. His testimonials below demonstrate his exceptional care for his clients. For clients who did not have the proper paperwork and planning in place before contacting Tarris Law he has achieved successful settlements to avoid unnecessary and costly litigation in cases ranging from complex estates and divorces to personal injuries and contract disputes. Read about some of our cases under the respective practice area. In his spare time Jonathan enjoys spending time outdoors on family outings, doing home improvement projects and volunteering on a variety of community boards and commissions.