Adam M. Hames | Atlanta Circuit, Post 14

Candidate Statement

I humbly ask for your vote for the Board of Governors. Service to others has been a cornerstone of my practice as an attorney and I wish to continue that service to my fellow members of the Bar. My background in the law is broad as I started as a government lawyer before transitioning to a small firm general practice. For the last almost 20 years I have been a sole practitioner.

Among the many issues facing the Bar, I see the use of runners and misleading advertising as something the Board of Governors should address. I am not arrogant enough to believe I have the answers to this and other issues, but I am willing to listen and learn. My role as a Special Master in disciplinary cases has given me an insight into disciplinary rules that may address many of these issues.

Another issue facing the Bar is the coming revolution of artificial intelligence. AI can be of great assistance in many fields. Anyone who has been on a general civil calendar recognizes the hurdles facing courts, and opposing counsel, with pro se AI assisted litigants. Additionally, we have all read the horror stories about a lawyer who unreasonably relied upon AI to draft a pleading or legal document. How AI is ethically used in the practice of law will present issues that the Board of Governors will have to navigate for years to come.

Finally, the rule of law is under attack. Lawyers owe it to the judicial system, and the public, to act in support of the rule of law. The law should not be a partisan issue. If lawyers will not stand up for the rule of law, then we deserve whatever comes next.

Education

• American University, B.A. Literature (1991)
• Tulane School of Law, J.D. (1998)

Personal/Family

• As the son of two lawyers I was born and raised in Atlanta. My wife, Mary, and I have been married for 31 years and we have two adult daughters.
• At 57, I play full-court basketball two to three times a week. When I am not tempting a trip to the orthopedist, I enjoy listening to a wide variety of music.
• In law school, I was elected to be the chief of the Honor Board, appointed to the Dean’s Advisory Committee and won most outstanding graduate student leader at Tulane.

Professional Background, Bar Activities, Civic Activities

• For almost 20 years I have been a sole practitioner focusing on appeals and criminal defense at The Hames Law Firm LLC.
• My practice started in the Criminal Division of the Attorney General’s Office before joining a small commercial litigation firm. In 2006, I opened my own firm.
• Currently, I serve as a special master for the Supreme Court of Georgia in disciplinary and fitness matters. In the past, I was an officer and then chair of the Appellate Practice Section of the State Bar and an arbitrator in the Bar’s Fee Arbitration Program.
• Some of my past activities include:
  • President, Lawyers Club of Atlanta (2020–21)
  • President, Federal Defender Office Board of Directors (2022–23)
  • Former Advisory Committee Member, Atlanta Legal Aid (2009–2013)
  • Performer, Atlanta Bar’s Bard Show (2016, 2018, 2024)
  • Coach, High School Mock Trial, The Paideia School (2008–2016)
• 2023 AVLF Safe Families Office Volunteer of the Year
• 2014 Strike Force Soldier Award, GACDL
• 2024–25 Volunteer Lawyer, GLSP

Main Issues Facing the State Bar/Position

There are many issues facing the Bar, but of immediate concern is the use of “runners” in personal injury cases. I support tightening the rules to prevent this practice and to protect consumers from unethical attorneys.