Each day at Burnside Law Firm, Thomas Burnside, III provides expert legal advice to clients while continuing a legal legacy that stretches over four generations. "My great grandfather, James Burnside, was a judge, a state senator, and a lawyer. His name first appears in the appellate records of Georgia back in 1901," shares Thomas. "Then his son, my grandfather (Thomas Reuben Burnside), was a lawyer and a member of the Georgia House of Representatives. My father (Thomas Reuben Burnside, Jr.) was a lawyer and, of course, I'm a lawyer. So, we've been practicing law here in Georgia for well over 100 years."
Visiting his father's law office and seeing the impact his father had on the community greatly influenced Thomas' decision to go into law himself. "It was going to the office with my dad as a kid and watching him help regular, everyday people and seeing how appreciative they were of what he had done for them. They really appreciated how he had helped them in a critical period of their life and navigate a difficult time," shares Thomas.
"My father was a true gentleman, not only to his clients but also opposing parties, lawyers, and judges," he adds. "It was not uncommon for an opposing party to call my father years later and ask if he would represent them on a different matter. I think that spoke volumes about how he handled his business and is something I always appreciated. Don’t get me wrong, my father could be as tough as any lawyer out there; he just tempered it with compassion and decency—two things sorely lacking in our profession today."
Thomas also continues the family legacy of being involved in the community and across the state of Georgia. "For many years, my dad served on the Board of Governors for the State Bar, which is the sort of the governing body for the State Bar in Georgia," explains Thomas. "Then when he passed away, I filled his spot and served on the Board of Governors from 2007 through this year, when I will roll off in 2023. We've invested a lot in, and value giving back to the legal profession."
For the last two generations, the Burnside lawyers have focused primarily on personal injury law and have maintained the integrity established and passed on from past generations. "Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a sermon in 1963 based on Matthew 10:16 that was entitled “A Tough Mind and A Tender Heart.” I think that title sums up the dichotomy of skills that you need to be an effective advocate for a seriously injured client who needs help putting the pieces of their life back together.” says Thomas. “My father taught me that lesson and we strive to emulate his example here at our firm."
Currently, Thomas practices law with two partners, Garon Muller and Robert MacGregor. "We advocate for people who do not have the legal skills to advocate for themselves... that's always been a big part of what I’m passionate about,” shares Thomas. “We work with folks who have suffered really tragic losses and help them recover the compensation they deserve and need to move forward in life.”
Burnside Law Firm provides personal service and high-quality legal representation and advocacy for clients. The firm has received the highest ratings from peer review organizations like Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, AVVO and Martindale Hubble. Their Augusta office is located at 2919 Professional Pkwy in Augusta. For more information, visit www.burnsidefirm.com or call (706) 432-8320.
We advocate for people who do not have the legal skills to advocate for themselves.