Published: August 21, 2008 03:05 pm      

Local attorney puts family, others first

A part of 20 under 35, a supplement of The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — One local attorney uses the skills he worked hard to learn in law school to give back to the community.

Jon Austin, attorney for McAlister, McAlister, McKinnis & Tuggle, volunteers with the Trinity Legal Clinic to provide services to the poor and working poor in Central Oklahoma.

“Jon contributes high levels of expertise in areas of law,” said Todd McKinnis, a partner of the firm. “He practices integrity and looks out for what’s best for the client.”

The firm hired the 31-year-old as an intern during his first year of law school. He said he met Lloyd McAlister when his parents went to him to discuss their estate.

“I was working at Southwestern Bell Wireless and I wanted a change,” he said.

He graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in business in 1998 and completed law school at the University of Oklahoma in 2003.

“I do primarily business and real estate,” Austin said. “We get to work with a lot of entrepreneurs in Edmond every day.”

He said he enjoys the challenge of his job and doing different things each day. Austin said a typical day includes reviewing and drafting contracts, meeting with clients and helping facilitate various negotiations.

The law firm has had a huge impact on Austin’s life and he hopes to stay and become a partner.

“I think a leader surrounds him or herself with quality people,” he said. “I hope I’ve become more confident and more bold.”

His fellow attorneys even introduced him to Erin, who is now his wife.

“The first year here they set us up on a blind date and we got married a year later,” Austin said.

The couple has been married for five years and has two children, Jack, 2, and Meredith, 1. Austin and his wife volunteer as co-directors for the college ministry at First Baptist Church of Edmond.

“I enjoyed college and I had so many people poured into my life,” Austin said. “I wanted to do the same for college students.”

Austin completed the Leadership Edmond program through the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce last year and is now a member of the Steering Committee. He said he was exposed to different aspects of Edmond.

“It’s been good to meet people and how they support the businesses,” he said.

Austin spends what little free time he has reading, working in the yard and most importantly, playing with his children. He said his personal goal is to be the best husband and father he can be.

“I only have one shot at that and that’s more important than any professional goal,” Austin said.

His family recently was awarded Oklahoma Family of the Year through his father-in-law, Tony Kennedy.