Attorney Joe Clay Hamilton

 MISSISSIPPI PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER JOE CLAY HAMILTON

(1928-2023)

Joe Clay Hamilton practiced law for more than 50 years. During that time, he tried more than 100 civil and criminal matters to jury verdict. While Joe Clay began his practice on the civil side, he transitioned into criminal work early on, holding numerous prosecutorial positions in Lauderdale County. Following his time as a prosecutor, Joe Clay returned to civil practice and began working in private practice doing defense work for the largest Workers’ Compensation carrier in the state.

However, in 1989, Joe Clay realized that his real desire was to help those who had been hurt, and that is what led him to start his own practice – The Hamilton Law Firm – with the goal of helping people who had been injured or needed general legal assistance. In 2006, his son, Kevin Hamilton, joined him to form a team that would begin focusing exclusively on helping injury victims to receive full compensation for their injuries.

Prior to his legal career, Joe Clay served in the United States Army in the Communications and Intelligence Division while stationed in the Pacific. Upon discharge, Hamilton enrolled at the University of Alabama, where he graduated with a degree in Journalism. Following graduation, Joe Clay worked as a reporter for The Clarion Ledger before receiving an offer to work for The Atlanta Journal. While he enjoyed getting to interview numerous well-known celebrities – such as Ronald Regan, Lydon B. Johnson, Bob Hope, and Zsa Zsa Gabor to name a few – it was his time reporting on matters relating to government and law that most piqued his interest.

And it was those interests that led him back to Mississippi to become an attorney and elected official. Joe Clay Hamilton ran for public office five times, winning all five of those contests, with three elections coming against entrenched incumbents. Joe Clay first served in office in 1961 when he was elected Lauderdale County Attorney, where he served two terms, before going on to successfully run for the position of Lauderdale County District Attorney for the Tenth Judicial District, where he served two terms. In 1991, Joe Clay Hamilton ran for a seat in the Mississippi State Senate, which he won by defeating long-time incumbent Glenn Deweese. In 1994, while serving as a State Senator, Joe Clay Hamilton was awarded the advocacy award by The Mississippi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence – an award presented to only one legislator each year – for his role in getting long overdue spousal abuse laws enacted. And in 1995, Joe Clay was awarded the Certificate of Excellence by the NAACP for role in sponsoring, and record in supporting, legislation aimed at achieving equality under the law.

Joe Clay Hamilton has received numerous accolades during his fifty-plus years of practicing law, including being selected in 2010 as Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association; receiving the AV Preeminent rating, which is the highest rating available for legal ability and ethics, by Martindale Hubbell; and being chosen as Chairman of the state-wide
Workers’ Compensation Commission in 1994.

Education

  • University of Mississippi, LL.B.
  • University of Alabama, B.A.

Bar Admissions

  • Mississippi
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit – 1959

Memberships

  • Lauderdale County Bar Association (President, 1971) and American Bar Associations
  • Mississippi State Bar (Commissioner, 1970-1972)
  • Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association (Member, Board of Governors, 1977-1978; 1980-1982)
  • American Association for Justice (formerly The Association of Trial Lawyers of America)

Public Service

  • County Prosecuting Attorney, Lauderdale County
  • District Attorney, 10th Judicial District
  • Member, Mississippi Senate, District 33