by Natasha Khairullah
Staff Write
With just a quick glance at attorney Christopher Davis’ daily planner, anyone can figure out that time is not one of his most abundant resources. Holding a strong record for community service, advocacy and involvement in the legal community, Davis’ days are filled to capacity.
But unlike many legal professionals, his busy schedule is not just because of his professional commitments, but also because of his extensive involvement in Jacksonville’s communities.
Davis is an associate at Peek, Cobb, Edwards & Ragatz and the newly-elected president of the D.W. Perkins Bar Association. In addition to his involvement within the legal community, he’s also a member of about a dozen service and research organizations, and, he says, his busy professional career is no reason not to continue his passion for community service – one he’s had since he was a child.
“What I often see are attorneys being really wrapped up in their careers and not being as involved in some of the other aspects of practicing law through a volunteer bar association like the Perkins Bar or with another community-based organization,” he said.
“For me, it (the involvement) is in my blood and it’s something I enjoy – giving back to a community that has given so much to me.”
A Tallahassee native, Davis attended Florida A&M University and then earned a law degree from the University of Florida. In 2001, after a stint in North Carolina, he moved to Jacksonville where he began to work for the Law Offices of Craig Gibbs handling personal injury and worker’s compensation cases.
Davis also serves as a member of the Advisory Committee of the University of Florida, Shands Jacksonville Hospital; the Leadership Development Workshop Committee of Jacksonville Community Council Incorporated; and is chairman of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity’s political action committee.
Even his work with the Perkins bar, he said, continues community service. As president, he hopes to educate the African-American community and community at-large about their legal rights and how to obtain legal representation through planned seminars.
“Another aspect of the Perkins Bar that we really wanted to highlight with the new leadership is just service to the community as a whole and making ourselves available to potential clients and other people who may just have that simple legal question that someone that’s a member of our association could help out with,” said Davis.
“Some of it is pro bono-oriented and service-oriented, but other aspects of it is marketing yourself to potential clients so you can help them with any of their legal needs.”
Davis also has an ardor for politics and channels it into his position as co-host of First Coast Views, a local television political commentary show.
“Information is knowledge and power and some of us are exposed to certain information because of a lot of different people,” he said.
“First Coast Views brings that knowledge to the everyday person who may not be as insightful on some of the political issues that are going on.”
He said his political and advocacy passion stems from the five years he served as chief of staff for State Rep. Terry Fields, where he lobbied for legislation, developed bills and helped constituents resolve their problems. After reflecting a bit more, however, Davis said he could trace his first political “moment” back to a third grade field trip to the state capitol.
“When I was younger, I always thought you had to run for public office to effect some positive change in people’s lives,” said Davis. “But I’ve met so many people since then that work behind the scenes through advocacy firms or lobbying firms or other organizations that I now realize that almost anyone can help effect those changes.”
As for Davis’ future plans, he said anything is possible, as long as he’s always working towards achieving his main goal.
“What I really want to do is just help create a better quality of life for people and effect positive change,” he said. “I’ve had opportunities to go to good schools and get an education and go out into the work world into politics and law and I think that for so much that has been given to me, I have a responsibility to give back and keep working towards that goal.”