Auburn University Highlights K.C. Hairston Using Engineering Degree in the Courtroom

K.C. Hairston's career path is showcased in an article published by Auburn University, illustrating how he is using his industrial engineering degree in the courtroom. 

K.C. is a partner in the firm's Birmingham and Washington offices, and a member of Balch's Energy Practice. He received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Auburn University, before receiving his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law. 

“I utilize engineering principles every day at the law office and in the courtroom, the same skill set that I would have utilized had I gone to work for an engineering firm,” Auburn University quoted K.C. as saying. “I consider my career being in engineering and law, collectively.”

In the article published October 12, Auburn University featured an interview with K.C. in which he reflected on his academic journey and emphasized how the combination of engineering and law degrees equipped him with strong critical thinking skills, enabling him to layer in analysis on the legal consequences. 

“Auburn’s Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) curriculum equips students for how to identify key issues, analyze the facts and draw conclusions supported by the analysis,” Auburn University quoted K.C. as saying.  “In addition, the teachings I received on production, quality control and efficiencies not only helped me in my law school assignments, but I rely upon them continuously in my legal career.”

K.C. views his career as a harmonious integration of both disciplines.

K.C. Hairston's practice focuses on the day-to-day business, legal and regulatory needs of electric utilities, including compliance issues before the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Energy Information Administration (EIA), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). 

Additionally, K.C. serves as a municipal court judge for the City of Mountain Brook and holds the position of president within the Alabama Municipal Judges Association.

K.C. is among numerous attorneys at Balch who leverage backgrounds in science or government to benefit the firm's clients.