Carolyn Geary | Gulfport General Practice Lawyer

Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire

Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference.
I had a client who had made some mistakes and her child was taken into the custody of Child Protective Services. The Attorney General's office initiated a Termination of Parental Rights case against her. She had gotten back on track, and I was able to prove that CPS had not taken all the steps to reunite her with her child as they are required to do by law, therefore I was able to get the Petition to Terminate her parental rights denied.

Also, recently in an Immigration case, I had a client who was from Mexico. She had been here in the U.S. since 1999. She came to the U.S. to escape the violence that she was a victim to in Mexico. While here she had a son who unfortunately was diagnosed with autism. I was able to file for asylum and subsequently ask for the relief of cancellation of removal. She was granted her relief and in two years will be able to become a U.S. citizen, and her child who is a U.S. citizen will be able to continue to get the care he needs that he would not be afforded in Mexico.

How did you build a successful practice?
I work hard for my clients with honesty and integrity.

What should clients look for in a lawyer?
Clients should look for a client who tells them the truth not just what they want to hear. Also, it is best to get an attorney who has a good relationship with other attorneys, as well as the judiciary.

How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases?
Local knowledge is essential in hiring an attorney. An attorney who knows the local judges and community can attain better results and work a case towards a better end because each judge is different and although works under the same laws, they do expect different things.

What information can you provide in a free phone consultation?
In a free consultation, I listen to the facts and can advise a client what steps they need to take to achieve their goal.

What information do you need in a free phone consultation?
In an initial consultation, I need to know the basic facts about the case, such as what is the essential goal of the client, who are the parties in the case and what is their position, and contact information of all parties.

What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community?
I have 17 years experience in litigation. I take my time to prepare my clients for trial and what to expect at trial. I do a lot of investigation to support my client's position.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
When I win a case for my client and see how this affects him/her is when I feel the most awarded.

What are your other interests in addition to law?
My other interests include reading, walking, and spending time with my child.

Are you involved in your community?
I do volunteer work with my church on a weekly basis.

• Member | Mississippi State Bar Association

• Clausell v. Clausell, 116 So. 3d 189 (Miss. Ct. App. 2013). The Appellant appealed Chancellor’s final judgment of divorce, which classified the home as marital property and ordered it to be sold, with the sale proceeds to be divided equally. Geary represented the Appellee. Mississippi Court of Appeals affirmed Chancellor’s decision. Gordon v. Gordon, 126 So. 3d 922 (Miss. Ct. App. 2013). Gordons were divorced on irreconcilable differences and enterd into a consent agreement, which left the Harrison County Chancery Court to resolve one issue as to whether the Wife misappropriated or wasted $46,000.00 of marital income. The Chancellor failed to address custody or support of son. Geary represented the Appellant. The Mississippi Court of Appeals found no reversible error and affirmed the Chancellor’s decision.

• “The Tort Reform Statute Senate Bill 3,” Presented by the Hon. M. Gino Brogdon, Superior Court of Fulton County for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia, November 18, 2005.
  
  “Ethics in Landlord-Tenant Law” and “Problem Tenants and Effects of the New Law,” The Effects of the New Uniform Residential & Landlord-Tenant Act Seminar, Mobile, Alabama, January 23, 2007.
  
  

 I will schedule appointments outside office hours.  Also, I will meet people who are house bound, elderly, and disabled at their home.

Carolyn Ann Mcalister has been a Premium Member since June 20, 2017.
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