PATRICK JONES was recently honored by the Roger Williams University School of Law as a Champion of Justice in recognition of his impact and accomplishments in supporting the school’s social justice program. Jones, who was named a Pro Bono Collaborative Champion, is a founding partner of Jones Kelleher LLP. He has worked extensively with RWU’s Pro Bono Collaborative to facilitate legal assistance and fight for access to justice in Rhode Island.
What influences you to contribute to pro bono legal service in your community? Why is this sort of work important?
Trial law is all about advocacy. To be willing to lead and advocate for a worthy cause in the community should be within the wheelhouse of every trial lawyer. These programs and institutions that address access to justice, needs of the homeless, housing rights – they protect the most vulnerable in our society, and these groups really need that protection now.
What advice might you give a lawyer at the start of his or her career?
Never forget civility. Take good care of yourself physically and mentally. Improve your listening skills. Build relationships with your adversaries. Laugh.
What has been most rewarding about your profession?
Being able to bring a very relevant set of skills to the challenge of helping individuals or families cope with a tragedy. Building a personal injury group that has the firepower to accomplish this. Mentoring and communicating to law students and young lawyers the broad picture of lawyers in the community that lawyers work hard, have fun, have a voice on social issues in their community, make a good living, give back, and can play a broader role than the one typically imagined.
Why did you choose to specialize in trial law? What sets trial law apart from other areas of practice?
My mentor coming out of college was a trial lawyer from Cleveland. His name was Bob Sweeney and he had 13 kids, two of whom were my classmates in high school and college. He had been a congressman, but I worked for him as a trial lawyer, and he was an inspiration. Later reading about Edward Bennett Williams, and his trials, sealed it for me.
How has your practice changed since it was founded?
I moved from the defense side of torts to the victim side in the late ’80s after 10 years of defense work. I founded Jones Kelleher in 2014 when, after 30 years as Cooley Manion Jones, our plaintiff’s group was causing too much client conflict with the other practices. I’d always enjoyed practicing in Rhode Island, but I took the bar there in 2002 when it became difficult to get admitted on a case-by-case basis. Today, Rhode Island is a big part of our practice.
Outside of your professional life, what do you do to unwind?
I read widely, play tennis and golf, run, and serve on great boards: Pine Street Inn, Roger Williams Law School, and Citizens Energy Corp.
