With over 30 years of experience practicing law Attorney John J. O'Connell, Jr. with Smith, Schroeder & O'Connell has honed his skills as a trial attorney and has a proven track record of success in the courtroom.
At Smith, Schroeder & O'Connell we pride ourselves in providing personalized attention to each and every one of our clients. We understand that every case is unique and we work tirelessly to ensure that our clients receive the best possible outcome.
Smith, Schroeder & O'Connell have extensive knowledge and skills in various areas of law including Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, and Divorce and Family Law. They are dedicated to staying up-to-date on the latest legal developments to provide their clients with the best possible representation.
The HONORABLE BILLY JOE (B. J.) SMITH (1932-1997), Partner -
The late Judge B. J. Smith was in private practice for many years, served as a DeKalb County Magistrate Court Judge for over 20 years and in 1997 Governor Zell Miller commissioned him as Senior Judge for DeKalb County, State of Georgia. Prior to his death in late 1997, Judge Smith had a heavy criminal defense law practice and represented clients in the areas of criminal law, divorce, wills, probate, and civil cases.
GREGORY Z. SCHROEDER (1950-2000), Partner - The late Attorney Gregory Z. Schroeder practiced law for many years and represented clients in the areas of divorce, criminal law, probate, wills and trusts and bankruptcy.
JOHN J. (JIM) O'CONNELL, JR., Partner - Attorney John J. O'Connell, Jr. is one of the founding members of Smith, Schroeder & O'Connell and continues the law firm and law practice today.
Mr. O'Connell founded the law firm with the Honorable B. J. Smith, deceased (1932-1997), and Gregory Z. Schroeder, deceased (1950-2000). Mr. O'Connell's Areas of Practice and Legal Biographical Information are set forth below. In addition to the law firm's telephone numbers and messaging service, you may reach Mr. O'Connell at his direct email address at jjo@ssolaw.com.
We know that legal action can sometimes be overwhelming. We are dedicated to providing you help in language that you can understand. If you don't feel like you understand your options, just ask, and we will work to find an explanation that works for you.
The first step is for us to work with you and come up with a plan to get the results you need. Through our understanding of the law and your understanding of the circumstances, we will craft a path to success.
Don't wait! Contact us for a free phone consultation. Let us help you figure out your best next steps are. The sooner you have a plan of action, the better your chances of taking the correct steps to get the results you want.
We represent clients in all types of Personal Injury cases, including Motor Vehicle and Trucking Crash cases, Premises Liability (Slip or Trip and Fall cases, Inadequate Security cases, and other Premises or Real Property cases), Defective Product cases, Equine Injury cases, Medical Malpractice and other personal injury cases. In the event the defendant's insurance company will not provide an adequate award for our client's injuries we take those cases to trial and let a jury decide the value of our client's injuries.
Our law firm represents clients in all types of Divorce and Family Law cases with a specialty emphasis in High End and Complex cases. Whether your case involves complex child custody issues and/or complex asset and debt division issues and/or the noncompliance of the other party issues, we recommend, at the very least, an initial consultation with Attorney O'Connell of our office, so that you may make an informed decision on how you should proceed with your case.
Since the days of our law firm's late law partner, the Honorable B. J. Smith (Judge, DeKalb County), we have been handling all types of Criminal Cases, Felony, Misdemeanor, Traffic, and Administrative, and in each case our goal is to pursue justice for our client. In the event you have a pending criminal case or potential criminal case, we recommend a consultation with Attorney O'Connell of our office, so that you will be aware of your legal rights in the matter and so that you may make an informed decision on how you should proceed in the matter.
Our law firm represents clients and handles legal matters in the following areas of law: Wills & Trusts, Probate Cases, General Civil Cases, Corporate & Business Law Cases, and other General Practice Legal Matters. Please feel free to contact us to discuss these or other areas of law that our law firm handles.
Areas of Practice:
John James (Jim) O'Connell, Jr. has been an attorney since 1985, has been practicing in the Atlanta area since 1992, and practices in the following areas:
Litigation, Trial, Appeals, Divorce and Family Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Law - Federal, DUI Law, Plaintiff's Personal Injury, Plaintiff's Wrongful Death, Plaintiff's Motor Vehicle Collision/Crash Law, Plaintiff's Tort Law, including General Negligence, Intentional Torts, including Assault and Battery, Nuisance, Trespass, Nuisance and Water Invasion Claims, Premises Liability, including slip and fall and trip and fall and inadequate security cases, Defamation such as Slander and Libel, Violations of the Right to Privacy (Invasion of Privacy), Medical Malpractice, Punitive Damages, General Civil Litigation, Insurance Law, Administrative Law, Business and Commercial Law, Business Organizations, and Contract law.
Bar Admissions:
Mr. O'Connell has been admitted in the following jurisdictions and to the following Courts:
Jurisdictions:
Georgia, 1992; Montana, 1985.
Courts:
Supreme Court of Georgia, 1992; Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1992; United States District Court Northern District of Georgia, 1992; United States Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1992; United States District Court Northern District of California, 1987; United States Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1987; United States District Court District of Arizona, 1991; United States Tax Court, 1988.
Education:
Mr. O'Connell received his law degree and undergraduate degree at the following:
Law Degree: Western State University College of Law (now known as Thomas Jefferson School of Law), San Diego, California, 1982, Juris Doctor.
Undergraduate Degree: University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 1979, Bachelor of Arts, Major - Political Science (Pre-Law), Minor - Journalism.
Mr. O'Connell has also attained the following:
Special Teaching Certificate: Law, State Board of Directors and Community Colleges, State of Arizona, 1993-1995.
Adjunct Faculty, Community College System, State of Arizona, 1993.
Professional Associations and Memberships:
Mr. O'Connell is a member of the following:
State Bar of Georgia, State Bar of Montana, American Bar Association, American Association for Justice, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, DeKalb Bar Association, Thomas Jefferson School of Law Alumni Association, University of Arizona Alumni Association.
Honors and Awards:
Mr. O'Connell has been awarded the following honors and awards:
Who's Who in American Law, Marquis, Millennium Edition, 2000-2001.
Who's Who, Strathmore's, Millennium Edition, 2000-2001.
Other Professional Activities - Mock Trial Competitions:
Mr. O'Connell has been a presiding judge at the 2006 Atlanta Regional American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition. The competition is a Mock Trial Competition that involves law students and law schools throughout the country.
Sponsorships:
Mr. O'Connell is a sponsor of the Annual Bench and Bar Dinner In Honor of the Members of the DeKalb County Judiciary Hosted by the DeKalb County Bar Association.
Mr. O'Connell has also been a sponsor of other organizations, including but not limited to the Georgia State Troopers Association.
Personal Information:
Excerpt from an interview with Mr. O'Connell:
" . . . one of the most important things to me, as a lawyer, is the fact that I can help people. . . . And my clients really appreciate the fact that I work hard for them, no matter what the cause or matter, I fight hard for them . . . and speak for them in court . . . I tell their story . . . and they really appreciate that."
Representative Cases:
-Mr. O'Connell was the sole trial and appellate plaintiffs' attorney in a leading residential Nuisance, Trespass and Water Invasion tort case in the State of Georgia (Baumann v. Snider, 243 Ga. App. 526 (2000) (Georgia Court of Appeals 2000).
-Mr. O'Connell has appeared 3 times in Verdict Search's TOP GA VERDICTS (which publishes the top verdicts and settlements in GA for each year), twice in Top GA Verdicts of 2009 and once in Top GA Verdicts of 2014. Each of these cases (2 jury verdicts based on 2 jury trials and 1 settlement during litigation at mediation) were motor vehicle crash cases. The 2014 motor vehicle crash case verdict was based on a jury trial and that verdict was the 10th highest motor vehicle verdict in the State of Georgia for the year 2014.
-Mr. O'Connell has been the sole and/or lead counsel in Criminal cases which have been tried before a jury. In the not to distant past, one of these cases, a Felony case, resulted in an Acquittal (Not Guilty Verdict) for Mr. O'Connell's client and that client went home after that trial a free person.
-Mr. O'Connell has been sole and/or lead counsel in Divorce cases and Family Law cases which have gone to trial. One of those cases lasted for 6 days in trial before the Court entered a verdict.
-Mr. O'Connell has represented restaurants, bars and night clubs (including sports bars and the like), and other commercial establishments over the last 25 plus years and has handled all legal aspects for these clients, including but not limited to, corporate and business legal matters, administrative legal matters, licensing, including the legal aspects of obtaining and maintaining liquor licenses, and other aspects and matters relating to these businesses.
-The above cases are a sample of the types of cases that Mr. O'Connell has handled for clients in the State of Georgia since his admission in 1992.
SMITH, SCHROEDER & O'CONNELL
Attorneys at Law
The 160 Clairemont Building
160 Clairemont Avenue
Second Floor/Suite 200
Decatur, Georgia 30030
Telephone 404.378.2355
Toll Free 1-866-SSOLAW2 (1-866-776-5292)
Facsimile 404.371.9267
Email sso@ssolaw.com
Web Site www.ssolaw.com
Copyright © 2023 Smith, Schroeder & O'Connell, Attorneys at Law - All Rights Reserved.
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