Gentry Patterson

Law Clerk | Garnett Patterson Injury Lawyers

FOLLOWING IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS

I grew up watching my dad fight for real people. This summer, I finally get to do it beside him. As a rising third-year law student at the University of Alabama School of Law, I could not be more excited to be at Garnett Patterson. When it comes to trying cases, Dad and Hunter are the best of the best. With their mentorship, it’s my plan to follow in their footsteps.

HOW I GOT HERE

Before Law School, I graduated with honors in computer science, worked for NASA and a TED Prize–winning archaeologist, and managed a network planning team at a major technology company. I never thought I’d be a lawyer. But 2022, everything changed. My wife, Heather, was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor. Navigating the bureaucratic nightmare of our health system during that crisis changed the course of my life. I learned the hard way how easily human suffering can be reduced to paperwork when people don’t have someone willing to fight for them. That experience led me to leave my job in tech and go to law school.

IN LAW SCHOOL AND BEYOND

Since starting at Alabama Law, I have focused on building courtroom skills through trial training and hands-on litigation experience. I’ve also excelled academically, including earning Top Paper in Torts during my 1L year. My first summer, I was selected for a fellowship with a trial judge in rural Alabama and also served as chief clerk at Marsh Rickard & Bryan. This summer, I interned for Chief U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala, and now have the honor of joining Garnett Patterson. Outside of law, I enjoy ultramarathons, mountaineering, caving, and spending time outdoors with Heather and our animals.