Irving W. Jones Jr.
Partner
1901 Sixth Avenue North, Suite 1500
Birmingham, AL 35203-4642www.balch.com
t:(205) 226-8740 e:ijones@balch.com
2
Bar Admissions
5
Cities he's called home
3
Academic Degrees

Golf Enthusiast
Old-School Roadtripper
Former Counterintelligence Agent

 

A corporate litigator whose passion for advocating for his clients rivals his commitment to mentoring inner-city and law students. When he’s not at the office you can find him with his daughter, on the golf course, or binge-watching his favorite shows.

Hometown

Washington, D.C.

Education

University of Mississippi, J.D., 2014
University of Baltimore, M.S., Criminology, 2006
Bowie State University, B.S., Sociology, 2003

 

The thing I like most is there is such a broad range of knowledge. For someone like me who enjoys practicing in lots of areas, it gives me the platform to pursue all of my interests. 

Favorite Balch Memory

The first time I had the opportunity to speak on a panel for the American Bar Association, the firm gave me all the resources I needed to make my presentation the best it could be. As a result, I played a role in ABA’s Section of Environmental, Energy, and Resources (SEER) conference of 2019.

For every area of the law, there is someone at Balch who has dedicated their career to it – which is fairly rare in the business.

Work Focus

General litigation, environmental litigation, commercial and class action.

When I knew I would practice law

My goal was always to be a lawyer, but when I got the opportunity to serve in counterintelligence for the National Security Agency, I couldn’t pass that up.

NSA to Corporate Law

I was required to think quickly on my feet, build rapport with strangers and employ effective communication skills – all tools that are needed in law when taking depositions or convincing a jury.

Prep for a big day

Wake up at 5:30 a.m., go for a 5-mile run, then eat a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, or oatmeal.

Best Advice

Take your time and do it right the first time. That includes proofreading!

Mentoring

Balch hosts the Susan B. Livingston Bootcamp for Success to give first-generation law students tips and tools for law school and their future careers. I was honored to serve as a member of the panel, which resulted in many of those students reaching out for continued advice during their educational journey. Having been a first-generation law student myself, I was able to approach this opportunity with a relational perspective.

Irving Jones - Boot Camp Mentoring

Community Outreach

As a participant in Higher Academic Summer School (HASS), which gives high-performing inner-city students the chance to take college courses. There is a legal argument at the end, and I enjoy helping the students prepare and deliver their presentations.

Best day off

Breakfast with family followed by a golf round with friends, preferably on a challenging course we’ve never played.

Go-to App

The Golf Channel.

Celebrity (present or past) I'd Want To Have Dinner With.

Justice Ginsburg.

Favorite book

"The Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell and "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Time travel

I’d go into the future to see who my daughter will become.