About Smith, Schroeder & O'Connell, Attorneys at Law
An Experienced Trial Attorney
An Experienced Trial Attorney
An Experienced Trial Attorney
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.
Personalized Attention
An Experienced Trial Attorney
An Experienced Trial Attorney
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.
Knowledgeable and Skilled
An Experienced Trial Attorney
Knowledgeable and Skilled
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.
Mr. O'Connell's Areas of Practice & Legal Bio Information
Lawyer Overview
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 in American Law, Marquis, Spotlighting John J. O'Connell, Jr., Esq., Top Professional Series, 2024-2025.
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.
