Name: Kim P. Clayton
Age: Do you really expect me to give you that number?
Family: My incredible son, Zachary; parents, Willie and Mary; brother, Bill (officially Willie III); sisters, Katrina and Nina; in-laws Belinda and Willie; nieces-Danielle, Brittany, Cara, Tori and Taylor; nephews-Ronald, Myles, Clayton and the latest addition Deion, my great-nephew.
Pets: None, but my son is hopeful!
Education: William M. Raines High School; B.S. in Sociology from Florida A & M University(cum laude); masters in Social Work from Florida State University and a juris doctorate from Florida State University College of Law.
Admitted to the Bar: 1992
Employed by: Kim Clayton P.A.
Field of Practice: Family law, personal injury, juvenile dependency, guardianships, wills, probate and social security disability.
Professional Organizations: The Florida Bar and D. W. Perkins Bar Association (past president).
Community Involvement: Recently JALACARE Program, JBA & Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s “Ask-A-Lawyer,” JALA volunteer pro bono attorney and D.W. Perkins Bar Association service projects.
How did you get involved?
I read about the need in the JALA newsletter. I gave Kathy Para a call and she directed me to the appropriate people.
How can someone else get involved?
Just pick up the phone and call Kathy Para at JALA or e-mail her at [email protected] and she will point you in the right direction. Also, there are many needs in our community and numerous organizations that need help. JALA made it very easy for me to volunteer in the areas of interest to me.
What have you learned/achieved through the experience?
As a former social worker, program director and government attorney, I have had significant exposure to people who could benefit from a little help, direction and compassion. Most people want the best out of life and want to do their best, but their environments, bad judgments and other obstacles sometimes work to block their success. I was blessed to have great hard working parents and a supportive community; therefore, I was able to achieve my goals. Many others have a different story. If I can continue to make a small difference, I become a better person and I get to help someone else better their situation. It really only takes a little time to volunteer and we all benefit.
JALACARE gave me the opportunity to share some important financial life lessons and information with kids in high school. Many of the kids were very surprised to learn some of the information shared with them. The “Ask-A-Lawyer” program only takes a few hours out of your day, but the effort was very much appreciated. As lawyers we have knowledge, and information is power and people usually make better choices and decisions when they are empowered with the correct information.
What was the last book you read or are reading?
I’m currently reading as much as I can about social security disability, but I hope to begin reading “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson.