About Shelby
The Full Story
I grew up on a farm in Stewart County, Tennessee, where I learned the value of hard work and a strong community. I am the child of a commercial farmer and a high school teacher. Most of my childhood was spent working the hot days in the tobacco fields, chasing cattle, and driving tractors. My mother also took great care to inspire a love of reading in me, and this is what ultimately led me to become a Lawyer.
After graduating high school, I went to college at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN, where I graduated with Sum Cum Laude in 2013. I worked my way through college performing any job I could get, including farm work, restaurant work, running documents for businesses, and mowing yards. I then went to the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2017, where I was a moot court team member, and learned to love college football.
My next stop was with the United States Navy. I served in the Navy from 2017 until 2023 as an assistant Judge Advocate General (JAG) both overseas and here in the United States. I was competitively selected for an officer appointment among just 3% of applicants. I performed many duties as a JAG, including as a criminal prosecutor for sex offenses and violent crimes, a Hospital attorney, and a Command Judge Advocate for Naval Air Station Lemoore and the Navy Strike Fighter squadrons housed onboard the installation. I was actually the attorney for VFA-147, which is the first F-35C squadron in the Navy. I also helped servicemembers with estate planning, landlord tenant issues, and divorce/custody issues. Although my active-duty time has ended, I am a member of the Navy Reserve, achieving the rank of LCDR (O-4).
I left the Navy in 2023 to work for the Social Security Administration. During my time there, I assisted the social security administration decide over 1,000 disability cases. I have reviewed countless medical files and worked with many Administrative Law Judges to help decide cases, both favorable and unfavorable.
Now I have my own practice focused on the areas of Clarksville, Dover, and Paris, TN. I will bring all of the above to your case and more.